Donald Trump , speaking to reporters at the White House about the mass layoffs he had threatened because of the shutdown , said they were underway . "It's happening right now. It's all the Democrats' fault. It's their shutdown, not ours," he said.
No discussions took place among top congressional leaders after Monday's fruitless meeting at the White House, according to a senior Democratic aide . His camp refuses to budge on the crucial issue of health insurance subsidies.
For his part, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that the two sides were still "in a stalemate" and suggested that more American workers would pay the price. "It's going to get awkward," he implied on Fox News, confirming that behind-the-scenes discussions were underway about a possible extension of subsidies for Obamacare, the working-class health insurance program. How long could this unprecedented stalemate last? "As long as the Democrats want it," Thune responded.
“If Republicans continue to refuse to extend the tax breaks” provided by Obamacare, “tens of millions of taxpayers will face a dramatic increase” in healthcare costs, Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives, told NBC.
Hundreds of thousands of "non-essential" public employees have been furloughed since Wednesday and are not receiving their salaries.
(Unioneonline)