Democratic leaders in Congress demand a meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms

"As a possible federal shutdown looms, the Democratic leaders of Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to what they call your decision to shutter government offices if no action is taken by the end-of-the month deadline. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said Saturday that Republicans, at Trump's insistence, have refused to enter talks. Democrats are pushing to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to keep government running past the Sept. 30 funding deadline."

"We write to demand a meeting in connection with your decision to shut down the federal government because of the Republican desire to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people, the two New York Democrats wrote. Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position, they said. We are ready to work toward a bipartisan spending agreement that improves the lives of American families and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis."

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries demanded a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to a potential federal shutdown and to protect healthcare funding. They said Republicans, at Trump's insistence, have refused to enter talks. Democrats are pressing to include health care programs in any spending deal to keep the government running past the Sept. 30 funding deadline. Congress left for a recess without resolving the funding issue. The House passed a Republican short-term funding plan into November, but the Senate rejected it and a Democratic funding proposal also failed, leaving a standoff that threatens a shutdown. Trump said the military and Social Security payments would continue, and Republicans blamed Democrats for any shutdown.

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