As Democrats and Republicans point fingers at each other over a possible government shutdown, one key Republican is creating the biggest roadblock to successful negotiations, according to an analysis.
That key Republican would be Donald Trump.
According to a report from Politico’s Jordain Carney, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D)NY) are barely talking and even if they were, Trump is throwing a wrench in the works by placing demands on Thune.
Carney wrote that the embattled Thune is stuck in the position of having to “to navigate Trump’s unpredictable machinations,” and that included a demand he shut negotiations down.
“Back in July, Thune, Schumer and their deputies sought to negotiate an agreement that would have expedited the confirmations of some administration nominees in return for the release of frozen agency funding,” Politico is reporting. “A deal was close, but Trump wouldn’t get on board, telling senators to go home instead — handing Schumer the opportunity to declare a small victory.”
Politico’s Carney added that Thune created more problems for himself by pushing Trump to cancel a meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday with Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“Thune also has to factor in that Trump has yet to sketch out a position on Democrats’ baseline demand: extending the health insurance subsidies that expire on Dec. 31,” Politico is reporting with Carney suggesting, “The South Dakotan has been careful not to get ahead of Trump this year on legislation, knowing that if the president stakes out a different position it could put him, and his GOP members, in a politically awkward spot. Furthermore, he sees no reason to address a deadline that is still months away.”
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