Author: Nicole Gaudiano / Source: USA TODAY
With the partial government shutdown stretching into 2019, here’s what you need to know about the effects. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – A group of moderate Democrats turned down the White House’s invitation to a luncheon Tuesday to discuss border security as the Trump administration sought to bypass House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and win support for border wall funding.
Pelosi and other Democratic leaders weren’t invited to meeting, but the speaker had given her colleagues permission to attend. None of them accepted the offer, however, and the meeting went on with only Republicans attending.
“The president looks forward to having a working lunch with House Republicans to solve the border crisis and reopen the government,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. “It’s time for the Democrats to come to the table and make a deal.”
The meeting comes as negotiations between Democratic leaders and President Donald Trump have stalled as a partial government shutdown barrels through its 25th day. The shutdown was triggered by Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told other Democratic leaders during a meeting Monday night that they had no problem with rank-and-file members meeting with the president.
“They can see what we’ve been dealing with,” Pelosi joked to Hoyer. “And they’ll want to make a citizen’s arrest.”
On Tuesday, Hoyer laughed when asked about the White House extending the invitation to rank-and-file Democrats.
“Is anybody surprised that the president is trying to get votes wherever he can get votes…,” he said. But, “We are totally united. Totally.”
Democrats “support the notion of continued dialogue,” said New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
But Democratic members invited to the White House luncheon need to ask themselves whether the administration is truly looking to end the…
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