Both Republicans and Democrats say they're desperate to avoid another government shutdown when funding runs out at the end of January. But as lawmakers scramble for a deal, one obstacle keeps resurfacing: President Donald Trump and his personal feuds. Progress on a partial spending package was already slowed by nearly three weeks of Republican infighting. And just as senators began to make headway last week, negotiations ground to a halt again — this time over funding for a climate research institute."We've lost a lot of time," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La, said after the meltdown. "We can't negotiate over the holidays. I mean we can, but it's like play-acting. This is a setback." The latest impasse stems from a dispute between Trump and Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Trump, angered by Polis' refusal to release a former election official imprisoned on 2020-related convictions, has pushed to shutter a Boulder-based research facility. This is a preview of Jack Fitzpatrick's latest article. Read the full article here. |
