US federal government in shutdown impasse/”There is no Plan B”
CNN reported: US President Donald Trump said it would not be “mandatory” for Republicans to give in to Democrats’ demands, a statement that suggests any end to the federal government shutdown remains far off.
Senate Republicans met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday for a luncheon, where they presented a united front and urged Democrats to vote for a funding extension.
Democratic leaders have also contacted the president in hopes of starting talks on a possible deal to extend health care tax credits, CNN added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that the Nov. 21 funding deadline in the Republican bill could be extended if the government shutdown drags on. Johnson said Democrats are “wasting time.”
Johnson also told reporters on Monday that if the Senate passes a bill to pay government employees, he will call the House of Representatives to Washington, saying, “The ball will be back in our court.”