President Biden and Vice President Harris met with Home Speaker Mike Johnson and different high congressional leaders within the Oval Workplace on Feb. 27 to debate authorities funding and Ukraine help.
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President Biden and Vice President Harris met with Home Speaker Mike Johnson and different high congressional leaders within the Oval Workplace on Feb. 27 to debate authorities funding and Ukraine help.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Photos
Congressional leaders emerged from an Oval Workplace assembly on Tuesday saying they have been optimistic that they may attain a deal earlier than a Friday deadline to avert a partial authorities shutdown.
However the leaders appeared to stay divided on Ukraine funding, with Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., insisting that addressing the scenario on the border wanted to be the highest precedence.
“My objective was to specific what I consider is the apparent reality, and that’s that we should handle America’s wants first,” Johnson advised reporters after the assembly.
The hour-long assembly targeted on three contentious points which have roiled Congress:
- a collection of annual payments required to fund authorities
- an emergency funding invoice that features help to Ukraine and Israel, and
- the massive numbers of migrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico. Crossings, together with requests for asylum, have overwhelmed assets on the borders and in cities and states across the nation.
Earlier this month the Senate reached a deal that included funding for Ukraine and different nationwide safety priorities — together with funding and coverage measures for the border. The White Home backed that invoice however Republican leaders within the Home of Representatives have refused to carry a vote on the measure. Former President Donald Trump, who’s the frontrunner to change into the Republican nominee for this 12 months’s presidential election, opposes the package deal.
Johnson says he’s targeted on the border
Johnson stated the Home would actively have a look at Ukraine funding “in a well timed method” but in addition reiterated that Biden wanted to take government motion to limit the variety of migrants crossing the southern border. “It is time for motion, it is a disaster and it should cease,” he stated.
Biden, who’s touring to Brownsville, Tex. on Thursday, has stated he’s taking a look at choices for government motion to curb the circulate of migrants. However he advised governors final week that current legal guidelines and an absence of funding have been limiting his decisions.
The border has change into a significant challenge within the presidential election, and Trump can also be slated to talk in Texas on Thursday in regards to the border.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer depart the West Wing to talk with reporters after a gathering with President Biden and Republican congressional leaders.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Photos
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Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Photos
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer depart the West Wing to talk with reporters after a gathering with President Biden and Republican congressional leaders.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Photos
Schumer stated the Ukraine talks have been intense
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-NY, stated the talks on Ukraine funding have been a few of “probably the most intense I’ve ever encountered in my many conferences within the Oval Workplace” with leaders targeted on the results of Ukraine dropping its combat towards Russia. “We stated to the speaker, ‘Get it performed,'” he stated.
“That is an existential second for the free world,” Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY., advised reporters.
The leaders appeared extra optimistic in regards to the funding payments
On authorities funding, Johnson stated the Home was working “across the clock” to achieve a deal, which he stated he thought was potential.
Funding for 4 departments is about to run out on Friday, with a second deadline for remainder of the departments on Fri. March 8.
Schumer advised reporters that Johnson “stated unequivocally he desires to keep away from a authorities shutdown” and stated that remaining points have been “not insurmountable.”
Jeffries stated there might have to be a bipartisan settlement to increase eight funding payments slated to lapse on March 8 to provide time for funding talks to proceed.