Hakeem Jeffries rules out handshake deal with Republicans to avert shutdown

"Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had initially secured a meeting with President Trump earlier this week, but it was cancelled at the urging of Republican congressional leaders. Funding is set to run out at midnight on Sept. 30, at which point most federal agencies will shut down without a spending agreement from Congress. Driving the news: Jeffries said in a press gaggle on Capitol Hill he has a "positive and communicative relationship" with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), but that there is "no trust" between House Democrats and Republicans."

""They consistently try to undermine bipartisan agreements that they themselves have reached," Jeffries continued. As such, he said, "any agreement related to protecting the health care of the American has to be ironclad and in legislation." Between the lines: Jeffries' comments demonstrate just how far apart the two parties are at this point. Democratic leaders have pushed for the extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and the restoration of Medicaid funding slashed in the Big, Beautiful Bill as part of a stopgap spending bill. Republicans, by contrast, have insisted on passing a "clean" measure without any tangential provisions."

"Jeffries is still pushing to sit down with Republicans, telling reporters Democrats are "ready to meet with anyone, any time, any place" in order to stop a shutdown. Jeffries said the last time he spoke with Johnson was last week, and that they only spoke "briefly" about the "logistics" around a vote to fund the government. The two House leaders "had no discussion of substance," Jeffries said. He added that he expects to have a conversation with Schumer "at some point later on" Wednesday."

Funding is scheduled to lapse at midnight on Sept. 30, which would shutter most federal agencies without a congressional spending agreement. House Democratic leaders demand extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and restoration of Medicaid funding cut in the Big, Beautiful Bill as part of a stopgap spending bill. House Republicans insist on passing a clean funding measure without additional provisions. Jeffries reports a positive, communicative relationship with Speaker Mike Johnson but says there is no trust between House Democrats and Republicans. Jeffries is pushing for meetings and insists health-care protections must be ironclad and written into legislation.

Read at Axios