Top Congressional leaders head to White House ahead of shutdown deadline

"The top four leaders in Congress are scheduled to meet with President Trump this afternoon at the White House, just ahead of a September 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. The Oval Office meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is set to occur ahead of an expected Senate vote on a short-term stopgap bill."

"House Republicans narrowly passed a continuing resolution earlier this month that would fund the government through November 21. That measure failed in the Senate because of Democratic opposition. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber; they need 60 votes to pass the legislation. "We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out," said Jeffries and Schumer Saturday in a statement regarding the White House meeting."

""After reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive," Trump posted on social media."

Congressional leaders John Thune, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, and Hakeem Jeffries will meet President Trump in the Oval Office before the September 30 funding deadline to try to avert a government shutdown. The Senate is expected to vote on a short-term stopgap measure after the House narrowly passed a continuing resolution funding the government through November 21, which failed in the Senate due to Democratic opposition. Republicans control the Senate 53-47 but need 60 votes to pass legislation. Democrats seek permanent extension of expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits and reversal of healthcare cuts from the GOP summer bill; Republicans want to fund the government first and negotiate afterward. Trump previously canceled a meeting, calling Democratic demands "unserious and ridiculous."

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