In a last ditch attempt to prevent a government shutdown, Republican and Democratic congressional leaders are meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
However, neither party has demonstrated much inclination to change their firmly held beliefs.Many government offices nationwide will be temporarily closed and non exempt federal employees will be placed on furlough if Congress does not pass and sign government funding legislation Tuesday night, further taxing workers and the economy.
Democrats have so far resisted Republicans' challenge to vote against legislation that would maintain government funding mostly at current levels.
They are demanding that Congress enact legislation to prolong health care coverage by using one of their few remaining points of influence.
"The meeting is merely a preliminary step. In a Sunday interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated, "We need a serious negotiation."
Despite agreeing to meet with Schumer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday afternoon, Trump has not showed much interest in accommodating Democrats' demands on health care.
The president, a Republican, has stated time and time again that he fully anticipates a government shutdown this week.
"If it has to shut down, it'll have to shut down," indicated Trump on Friday. "But they're the ones that are shutting down government."
By threatening to permanently lay off federal employees during a funding lapse, the Trump administration has attempted to persuade Democratic lawmakers to renounce their demands.
A few months ago, Chuck Schumer predicted that a government shutdown would be painful, destructive, and unpredictable.
"We shouldn't do it because he's right," Republican Thune of South Dakota stated on Sunday's "Meet the Press."
Nonetheless, Democrats contended that Trump's consent to a meeting indicates that he is under pressure to engage in negotiations.
They claim that Americans will mostly blame Republicans for any shutdown since they control both Congress and the White House.
