Senate Adjourns Until Dec. 27 As Government Shutdown Continues With No End In Sight

Talks between Republicans and Democrats failed to resolve issues stemming from funding disputes over President Donald Trump’s border wall on Saturday, leading Senate Republicans to adjourn until December 27, and extending the government shutdown through Christmas.

With both sides refusing to comprise and eager to make it appear that the other has caved, Democratic leaders are continuing to refuse demands by the president and his allies for $5 billion for a wall along the United States southern border with Mexico.

During the afternoon Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with Vice President Mike Pence in an attempt to reconcile, however, talks ended with a spokesman for Schumer stating that though Pence “made an offer. Unfortunately, we’re still very far apart.”

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) after an impromptu meeting with Schumer told reporters at the White House that the ball was in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s court. Schumer stated after a Friday meeting with Pence, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and the president’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, that he’d support no more than $1.3 billion for fencing instead of a border wall..

President Trump, instead of meeting with Democratic leaders to reach an agreement, held a lunch with hardliners. Some of those in attendance were Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who likened the encounter to a “war room strategy discussion.”

Other attendees of Saturday’s lunch included House Freedom Caucus leaders Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

While three-quarters of the government has already been funded, nine federal departments and several other major agencies continue to remain shutdown. Until the the shutdown ends, 800,000 federal employees, including those apart of the TSA and border patrol, will be forced to work without pay over the holidays.

Trump canceled his plans to stay at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago while the shutdown continues. This marks the third government shutdown of the year with Republicans still in control of the House, Senate and the White House.

Article by Eric Silverman