Democrats dismiss Trump shutdown offer
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Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
Even before President Trump's shutdown remarks on Saturday, Democrats and aides on the Hill were dismissing his planned shutdown compromise offer as inadequate.
As first reported by Axios, Trump was expected to make two offers to Democrats in exchange for $5.7 billion in funds for a border wall: Extend DACA protections for Dreamers, who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, and extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. Half an hour before the speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: "Unfortunately, initial reports make clear that his proposal is a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives, each of which is unacceptable and in total, do not represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people's lives."
Democratic Whip Dick Durbin also issued a statement:
"First, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell must open the government today. Second, I cannot support the proposed offer as reported and do not believe it can pass the Senate. Third, I am ready to sit down at any time after the government is opened and work to resolve all outstanding issues."— Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
A Democratic aide told Axios: "Dems were not consulted on this and have rejected similar overtures previously."
- "The BRIDGE Act does not fully protect Dreamers and is not a permanent solution."
- "This is not a compromise as it includes the same wasteful, ineffective $5.7 billion wall demand that shut down the government in the first place."
- "This cannot pass the House or Senate."
- "The President must agree to re-open government and join Democrats to negotiate on border security measures that work and not an expensive and ineffective wall that the President promised Mexico would pay for."
What we're watching: Whether any moderate Democrats break ranks and ask their leaders to reconsider.
Be smart: The risk Democrats face, especially moderates, is that the deal may seem appealing or reasonable to many independents who voted for them.
Go deeper: Trump expected to propose DACA-TPS immigration compromise
