House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) Late Sunday, Republicans accused him of leaving government fundraising talks ahead of the looming closing deadline.
“Rosa de Lauro, the top Democrat on the Approximate Budget Committee, is ready and willing to talk to his Republican colleagues, but he has had zero outreach from the Trump administration and House Republicans. Jeffries said in a statement.
Lawmakers face a March 14 deadline to fund the government, but efforts so far have failed as Democrats and Republicans debate who should be held responsible.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says the idea approved by President Trump wants to pass a clean, continuing resolution to fund the government until September.
Johnson said of NBC's “meeting the press,” “showing Democrats “up to this point they're not interested in finding a reasonable solution for it.”
“The Democrats have to help negotiate this,” Johnson added.
But Jeffries accused the GOP of not wanting to work with Democrats who might have the power to protest and close the government if they join at least four conservative budget Hawks.
Last week, House Republicans advanced their budget proposals, casting 217-211 votes along the party line. Republicans can afford to take this measure after losing only one GOP vote.
Jeffries argued that the vote in the budget resolution revealed no support from Democrats on laws that do not protect the quality of life of Americans, such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“Unfortunately, Republicans who control the House, Senate and presidency seem determined to shut down governments once again and hurt Americans every day,” he said.
