House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday he has refused an offer from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to meet behind the scenes in order to strike a deal to reopen the federal government.
“Republicans cannot and will not solve it in a backroom deal. Chuck Schumer has been suggesting that four leaders go into a smoke-filled backroom like in the old days and create this solution. It’s not a possible thing to do,” Johnson said at a news conference with other GOP House leaders and lawmakers.
“It was never appropriate. It’s not possible to put on a continuing resolution because it’s such a complex issue,” Johnson continued.
“As soon as Chuck Schumer reopens the government, all of our members will have an opportunity to engage in the very important discussion of how to make Obamacare affordable,” Johnson added.
Democrats have been withholding support for an otherwise clean continuing resolution to keep the government open and funded by demanding more money for Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
But that demand is part of a larger $1.5 trillion spending package pushed by Democrats that Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated would also provide healthcare for illegal aliens indirectly via Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded benefits – and Republicans have refused to go along with that.
“We won’t engage in Democrats’ hostage-taking, nor will we pay a ransom,” Johnson added.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would be open to meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — but only if they first agree to reopen the government.
Trump made the comments during a Diwali celebration at the White House as the government shutdown stretched into its 21st day, The Independent reported.
“I would like to meet with both of them, but I set one little caveat,” Trump told reporters. “They have to let the country open. The people want to go back to work. They want to be served. They need the services of some people, and a lot of people need the money, the payroll, so I’ll do it as soon as they open up the country.”
Senate Democrats have so far blocked a continuing resolution — a stopgap measure to keep the government open while negotiations continue over long-term spending bills.
During the event, Trump praised Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought — comparing him to Darth Vader — for cutting what he described as “all the things that they wanted” in Democratic-leaning states.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said any talks involving congressional leaders and the president could happen “as soon as we reopen the government.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House out of session since passing a continuing resolution last month that received support from only one Democrat.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed frustration after the luncheon, saying that genuine bipartisan talks were still possible but would require the administration’s engagement.
“We do have good people that are doing exactly that, but I think it’s well recognized that it’s not just the House that has to figure this out,” Murkowski told The Independent. “The administration is going to have to sign off on it so that the House will ultimately sign off on it.”
“This guy, you know, he claims he knows the art of the deal,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said of Trump. “He doesn’t know anything about that, obviously, from his behavior.”
Still, Baldwin added that the president could be motivated to reach an agreement on healthcare tax credits.
“He wants to solve this, he’s just being obstinate,” she said. “He owns this shutdown.”
However, new information says Baldwin is wrong on that point.
CNN’s Harry Enten revealed polling data on Monday showing Trump’s approval has gone up during the shutdown, while more Americans are beginning to blame Baldwin’s party for prolonging it.
