Citing what he called “unserious and ridiculous demands” from Democrats, President Donald Trump has canceled a scheduled meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The purpose of this week’s gathering was to seek a bipartisan compromise and address the rapidly approaching September 30 government funding deadline. Democrats had demanded that important health care programs, like as insurance subsidies and Medicaid, be preserved in any agreement.
Trump declared that unless Democrats lowered their demands, the meeting would not go on. Schumer and Jeffries have responded by accusing Republicans of impeding talks and threatening to shut down the government if an agreement cannot be reached.
Time is running out because Congress is recessed until shortly before the deadline. Despite their strong disagreements over budget priorities, particularly with regard to healthcare funding and other services that Democrats claim are non-negotiable, both parties insist they wish to prevent a shutdown.