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Trump walks out of shutdown meeting with top Democrats, calling it 'total waste of time' – live Trump walks out of shutdown meeting with top Democrats, calling it 'total waste of time' – live
(35 minutes later)
The House just voted to pass the individual Financial Services appropriations bill as part of effort by Democrats to pass government funding bills for each aspect of government in hopes of forcing a Senate vote. Only 8 Republicans joined with all Democrats in voting to fund this aspect of the government.
The House has voted to approve the individual Financial Services Appropriations bill to re-open that section of the government. The vote was 240 to 188 All Democrats voted aye. They were joined by 8 Republicans who voted yes
There is a new report that Rod Rosenstein will not leave the administration until special counsel Robert Mueller has finished his work rather than after Bill Barr is confirmed to be attorney general.
The source has clarified to Pete that Rosenstein will leave when Mueller's work is done, and it may take a few weeks or more after that to submit the report. https://t.co/7sICZtArV7
In a new interview with Buzzfeed, John Kasich, the outgoing Republican governor of Ohio, declined to say if he still considered himself a Republican.In a new interview with Buzzfeed, John Kasich, the outgoing Republican governor of Ohio, declined to say if he still considered himself a Republican.
Well I’m certainly a conservative. A creative conservative, on the order of a guy like Jack Kemp, or my newest big fad is Teddy Roosevelt” the progressive Republican president who later left his party and waged an unsuccessful third-party campaign.Well I’m certainly a conservative. A creative conservative, on the order of a guy like Jack Kemp, or my newest big fad is Teddy Roosevelt” the progressive Republican president who later left his party and waged an unsuccessful third-party campaign.
Kasich was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 2016.Kasich was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 2016.
The Guardian can confirm as well that Tom Steyer will not run for the presidency.The Guardian can confirm as well that Tom Steyer will not run for the presidency.
The New York Times reports that the progressive billionaire will announce that he will not run for the White House but will step up his efforts to promote Trump’s impeachment instead.The New York Times reports that the progressive billionaire will announce that he will not run for the White House but will step up his efforts to promote Trump’s impeachment instead.
Mr Steyer began informing aides early this week that he would not be a candidate after all, after concluding that he could have a greater political impact through his impeachment activism, several advisers to Mr Steyer said. Mr Steyer intends to spend at least $40m on impeachment efforts in the coming year – money that might otherwise have been directed toward a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.Mr Steyer began informing aides early this week that he would not be a candidate after all, after concluding that he could have a greater political impact through his impeachment activism, several advisers to Mr Steyer said. Mr Steyer intends to spend at least $40m on impeachment efforts in the coming year – money that might otherwise have been directed toward a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Most people come to Iowa around this time to announce a campaign for president,” Mr Steyer said in prepared remarks, which were obtained by the New York Times. “But I am proud to be here to announce that I will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to remove a president.”“Most people come to Iowa around this time to announce a campaign for president,” Mr Steyer said in prepared remarks, which were obtained by the New York Times. “But I am proud to be here to announce that I will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to remove a president.”
Mike Pence says Trump “made clear today there will be no deal without a wall”.Mike Pence says Trump “made clear today there will be no deal without a wall”.
Mike Pence now attacks Democrats who “demanded that before any negotiations could begin we would have to reopen the government”.Mike Pence now attacks Democrats who “demanded that before any negotiations could begin we would have to reopen the government”.
Trump backs up Schumer’s account, saying: “I said bye-bye” after saying the meeting was “a total waste of time”.Trump backs up Schumer’s account, saying: “I said bye-bye” after saying the meeting was “a total waste of time”.
Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time. I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time. I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!
Chuck Schumer told reporters that Trump slammed the table and walked out of the meeting at the White House this afternoonChuck Schumer told reporters that Trump slammed the table and walked out of the meeting at the White House this afternoon
Donald Trump implored Republicans to “stick together” as they come under pressure from Democrats, federal workers and the American public to reopen the government.Donald Trump implored Republicans to “stick together” as they come under pressure from Democrats, federal workers and the American public to reopen the government.
During a closed-door lunch with Senate Republicans, the president remained resolute in his negotiating position and made clear that he was not prepared to back away from his demand for a border wall, according to several members who attended the meeting.During a closed-door lunch with Senate Republicans, the president remained resolute in his negotiating position and made clear that he was not prepared to back away from his demand for a border wall, according to several members who attended the meeting.
“He gave no indication of any willingness to budge an inch,” said John Kennedy, a Republican of Louisiana. “The president– and I happen to agree with him –believes that his only sin is that for the first time in 15 or 20 years he is actually enforcing America’s immigration laws.”“He gave no indication of any willingness to budge an inch,” said John Kennedy, a Republican of Louisiana. “The president– and I happen to agree with him –believes that his only sin is that for the first time in 15 or 20 years he is actually enforcing America’s immigration laws.”
In a sign of how far off a resolution was, Kennedy outlined four possible outcomes – none of which included a compromise. In his view, either Trump blinks, Pelosi blinks, Trump declares a national emergency or the government remains partially closed. Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of a handful of Senate Republicans who is uneasy with the prolonged shutdown, said she reminded the president that “when the government is shut down there are consequences and people are starting to feel those consequences”.In a sign of how far off a resolution was, Kennedy outlined four possible outcomes – none of which included a compromise. In his view, either Trump blinks, Pelosi blinks, Trump declares a national emergency or the government remains partially closed. Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of a handful of Senate Republicans who is uneasy with the prolonged shutdown, said she reminded the president that “when the government is shut down there are consequences and people are starting to feel those consequences”.
In response, she said, Trump urged the party to stay unified.In response, she said, Trump urged the party to stay unified.
Murkowski has indicated support for the Democrats’ plan to pass a stopgap spending bill that funds border security at current levels while the debate continues and a separate package that would fully fund the rest of the government until the end of the fiscal year.Murkowski has indicated support for the Democrats’ plan to pass a stopgap spending bill that funds border security at current levels while the debate continues and a separate package that would fully fund the rest of the government until the end of the fiscal year.
Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, wouldn’t guess how many more days – or possibly weeks – the shut down would last but he isn’t counting on a swift conclusion. “I think we’re going to be here for a little while,” he said.Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, wouldn’t guess how many more days – or possibly weeks – the shut down would last but he isn’t counting on a swift conclusion. “I think we’re going to be here for a little while,” he said.
Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is firmly behind the president, said Trump told members that declaring a national emergency “remained an option” but that he “wasn’t going to do it right away”.Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is firmly behind the president, said Trump told members that declaring a national emergency “remained an option” but that he “wasn’t going to do it right away”.
Congressional leaders have arrived at the White House again for yet another meeting about resolving the partial shutdown.
Congressional leaders are at the White House for their third meeting in the Situation Room this shutdown. Administration officials aren't ruling out a break in the deadlock, but certainly aren't expecting one either.
Donald Trump spoke briefly to reporters on Capitol Hill this afternoon about the shutdown.
He insisted that Republicans were “very very united” and continued to leave open the possibility of declaring a national emergency, “I may do that”.
Trump spoke at the Senate Republican lunch today. However, those leaving the lunch are not optimistic about the partial shutdown being resolved anytime soon.
Leaving a GOP lunch with POTUS, Sen. Tim Scott said he “did not” leave with the impression it would end any time soon. “I think we’re going to be here for a little while.”
Doug LaMalfa, the Republican congressman who represents Paradise, California, which was almost completely destroyed by wildfires last year has responded to Trump’s tweet about withdrawing Fema funds from California this morning in a statement.
He describes Trump’s threat as “not helpful”.
Here is my statement in response to the President's tweet threatening to withdraw FEMA funding from California. Full release: https://t.co/vXcETGu1V7 pic.twitter.com/TlduSD7nQE
A continued shutdown poses risks to the US’s credit rating according to a report from CNN.
CNN: U.S. potentially risks losing its triple-A credit rating if shutdown continues long enough, Fitch Ratings said. The head of sovereign ratings said if the shutdown continues to March 1 and complicates debt ceiling, “We may need to start thinking about the policy framework.”
Federal employees are not getting paid during the shutdown. However, as the Atlantic reports, they can’t go on strike in response either.
Since the enactment of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, federal employees have been legally prohibited from striking. That law was intended to prevent public-sector workers from leveraging a work stoppage that could cripple the U.S. government or major industries in negotiations for better pay, working conditions, and benefits. But it likely did not envision a scenario where the government would require its employees to work without paying them, as is the case now.
The Washington Post reports that the shutdown has led to a significant reduction in food inspections.
[The Food and Drug Administration] which oversees 80 percent of the food supply, has suspended all routine inspections of domestic food-processing facilities, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in an interview. He said he’s working on a plan to bring back inspectors as early as next week to resume inspections of high-risk facilities, which handle foods such as soft cheese or seafood, or have a history of problems.
SCOOP: FDA chief tells WaPo that most food inspections have been halted but agency hopes to get back in the game @lauriemcginley2 @JoelAchenbach https://t.co/QmyEQKmGCd
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas says that he is getting some very strong praise for his new beard.
Pretty cool: A good friend is studying in Yeshiva in Israel. His rabbi told him he liked my beard, elaborating “It gives Cruz a Talmudic & Rabbinic look & presence that will put the fear of the Lord into Israel’s enemies & promote Middle East peace.” Wow. Perhaps a bit much....
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he has the “absolute right” to declare an emergency. The “threshold” for declaring one is if he can’t make a deal with Congress.
The Democratic leaders on Wednesday joined affected federal workers at a press conference on Capitol Hill to urge Donald Trump to end the partial government shutdown.
Echoing language they used in their rebuttal to Trump’s Tuesday night address, they accused the president of misrepresenting their negotiating position and called it a “dark time” for American workers.
“To use them as hostages through a temper tantrum by the president is just so wrong, so unfair, so mean-spirited,” said Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, pointing the workers standing behind him. “It ought to end and it ought to end now.”
House Democrats are planning to start passing individual spending bills that would reopen closed departments in hopes of ratcheting up pressure on Republicans. But the Senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to bring legislation to the floor that Trump has not explicitly said he would support.
“Last night the president spouted more malice and misinformation, appealing to fear instead of facts,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “The reality is the president could end the Trump shutdown and reopen the government today - and he should.”Jeffery David Cox, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, stressed the economic toll the shutdown – which he called a “lockout” – was having on workers, noting that his members’ average take-home pay is $500 a week.
“They need their jobs. They need their paydays. They want to service the American people and it’s time for this lockout to end,” Cox said.
Clifton Buchanan, a cook supervisor with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Houston, is among the hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been furloughed since 21 December, when parts of the government shut down.
Buchanan, who participated in the conference in Washington, turned 50 years old on Friday but instead of celebrating the milestone, he sat around the kitchen table with his wife discussing which bills they could afford to pay without his income.
“I’ve served this country for 29 years so it’s not like I’m against protecting our country” he said, referring to his service in the US army and his work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
“But,” he said, directing his comments to Congress and the president, “open up the government and then do your political thing. Free the hostages.”
Right now I’m just trying to figure out how to pay my bills and feed my family. I’m not working. I’m not getting paid. I can’t pick and choose who to blame. I just know I have no income.”