US President Donald Trump plans to meet with the four leading representatives of Congress tomorrow at the White House, one day before the deadline to reach an agreement to fund the federal government, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
He will speak with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, as well as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Congress is deadlocked, as Democrats, mainly in the Senate, have refused to cast the votes needed to pass a funding measure that would allow the federal government and its subordinate agencies to continue operating. Otherwise, a temporary shutdown will occur at midnight Wednesday.
Democrats, believing they have leverage, are demanding key health care provisions in exchange for their votes, the AP noted. They want an extension of subsidies that help low- and middle-income people buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats are also demanding a rollback of cuts to the Medicaid program included in the Republicans' main funding package.
Republicans say those demands are unacceptable and are willing to talk about them with Democrats separately from discussions on funding the government. The GOP is asking for a seven-week extension of the current funding.