WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Latest on the budget battle in Congress (all times local):
12:05 p.m.
President Donald Trump says a government shutdown “could happen” Saturday, and he is blaming it on Democrats’ stance on immigration.
Speaking Wednesday before a Cabinet meeting, Trump blamed Democrats for opposing his border security and hardline immigration plans. He says they are “looking at something that is dangerous for our country.”
Some Democrats have called for a legislative fix for those previously covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before Trump canceled it earlier this year.
Democrats want the fix to be included in legislation to keep the government open past Friday. The White House has called for tighter immigration controls and increased border security funding in return.
Trump says of Democrats: “They want to have illegal immigrants pouring into our country.”
___
9:40 a.m.
The hard-right House Freedom Caucus is showing an openness to a deal that would prevent a partial government shutdown this weekend.
The group’s members say Republicans must focus on passing the GOP’s prized tax bill.
The North Carolina congressman who leads the caucus says any distraction from taxes _ including a shutdown _ would be a problem.
Mark Meadows and several others in the roughly 30-member group aren’t ruling out backing a leadership-backed spending measure that would expire Dec. 22. They plan to talk to leaders later Wednesday.
The caucus has wanted the spending bill to run an additional week. They say the shorter version would tempt Republicans to cut a deal with Democrats so Congress could go home for Christmas.
___
2:50 a.m.
Top Republicans are trying to smooth over GOP divisions over the budget as leaders work to push through a short-term spending bill by week’s end and avert a partial government shutdown.
Republican leaders have postponed a planned House vote on the temporary spending measure until Thursday. That buys time to iron out disputes with conservatives seeking tighter budget curbs.
The delay shows the clout that conservatives hold.
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
