Amid the ongoing ‘shutdown’ in America, President Donald Trump said that he “will not come under pressure” from Democrats to restart work in government departments.
Trump made it clear that he had no plans to hold talks despite the government shutdown soon beginning its sixth week.
The president told CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Sunday that Democrats seeking to expand health care subsidies have “lost their way.”
He predicted that Democratic leaders would eventually capitulate to Republican leaders. Republican leaders have said they will not negotiate unless Democrats vote to reopen the government.
“I think they have to vote,” Trump said. If they don’t vote, that’s their problem.”
Trump’s comments indicate that the shutdown could continue for some time and that federal employees, including air traffic controllers, would likely not receive additional pay. There is also uncertainty about whether the 42 million Americans receiving federal food assistance will be able to take advantage of this assistance.
Members of the Democratic Party in the Senate have so far voted 13 times against reopening the government and have insisted that Trump and Republicans first negotiate with them on the extension of ‘Affordable Care Act subsidies’, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
The President reiterated his appeal to Republican leaders to change Senate rules and eliminate the ‘filibuster’ instead of negotiating, but Republican leaders in the Senate rejected the idea. He argues that the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objection in the Senate is vital to the institution and allows him to block Democratic policies when he is in the minority.
‘Filibuster’ is a parliamentary procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolongs the debate on proposed legislation so long that the decision is delayed or prevented altogether.
In America, after the money for government expenses runs out, a financial package has to be approved by the Parliament. ‘Shutdown’ is implemented after Parliament’s approval is not received.
