Government Shutdown Looms As Trump Marks 100 Days In Office
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) - A government shutdown is looming as President Donald Trump nears his first 100 days in office.
On Monday, Congress returns to Washington after a two-week recess to begin negotiations on a spending bill. President Donald Trump has insisted that the new budget includes funding for his long-promised wall along the Mexican border. He's said that Mexico would pay for it, in some form or another, at a later date.
"I think that's a fight worth having and a conversation and a debate worth having for 2018. And if we can do some of that now, that'd be great. But we cannot shut down the government right now," said Sen. Marco Rubio.
Democrats in the House and Senate, as well as Republicans in four states along the U.S./Mexico border, remain opposed to the idea.
In a tweet on Sunday, the president issued a veiled threat to Democrats.
ObamaCare is in serious trouble. The Dems need big money to keep it going - otherwise it dies far sooner than anyone would have thought.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017
Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin fired back.
"We told the President and the Republicans, weeks ago, 'Don't try any political stunts, don't put any poison pills into this process'," he said.
If no deal is reached, the government would shut down on Saturday, the president's 100th day in office.
President Trump laid out his vision for what he wanted to accomplish during his first 100 days in his so-called "Contract with America." But with less than a week to go before reaching the arbitrary deadline - many of the items in that contract remain unfulfilled. He now says the 100-day mark is "not very meaningful."
While acknowledging there have been setbacks, the White House says there have been some promises kept. They point to the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific partnership trade agreement and green-lighting the Keystone pipeline.
"He is fulfilling his promises and doing it at break-neck speed," said White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.
The White House is expected to address another Trump campaign promise with a Wednesday announcement on tax reform.
So far, more Americans are disapproving of the president's performance to date, according to results of the latest polls which Trump has called 'fake'.
President Trump plans to mark his 100th day in office with a rally in Pennsylvania.
