Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., issued a sharp critique of the White House on Sunday afternoon, telling reporters, “somebody’s got to lead,” in order to put an end to the ongoing federal shutdown that has entered its second day — as no clear indication of an end is in sight. Graham also took specific shots at White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, and said he hoped for a “breakthrough” on negotiations as early as Sunday night. He warned things would only get uglier otherwise.
Sen. Lindsey Graham on shutdown: "Somebody's got to lead. The White House staff has been pretty unreliable." pic.twitter.com/Da9BNXZmmd
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 21, 2018
“Every time we have a proposal it is only yanked back by staff members. As long as Stephen Miller is in charge of negotiating immigration, we’re going nowhere,” Graham told reporters on Sunday afternoon. “He’s been an outlier for years.” Miller’s far-right views, specifically on immigration, are well-known.
Graham went on to tell reporters, “I’ve talked with the president — his heart is right on this issue.”
“He’s got a good understanding of what will sell, and every time we have a proposal it is only yanked back by staff members,” he said.
Graham added, “the White House staff, I think, is making it very difficult.”
The South Carolina senator pointed out that the White House had originally requested $18 billion for border security and the president’s promised so-called wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. During a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers earlier this month, Graham recalled Trump claiming that $18 billion was too much money and that he could do it for less.
“So what does the White House staff do a couple of days later? They pitch a proposal for $33 billion. That’s just not credible,” Graham said.
Though there have been proposals of bipartisan solutions, the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats has persisted, but Graham said he believed a breakthrough would happen on Sunday night. Bipartisan members of the Senate met on Sunday afternoon “with the goal of crafting a proposal to set up an immigration vote in that chamber as well as an agreement to reopen the government until Feb. 8, Politico reported.
Sen Collins, Murkowski and Corker going to meet with leadership about how the bipartisan meeting went
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 21, 2018
Sen @timkaine just tried to bring up and pass a 3-day CR. As expected, Cornyn objected trying to change it to the vote on the CR to Feb 8, Kaine objected.
Back to the shutdown.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 21, 2018
“If there’s going to be one, it will be tonight,” Graham said. Though, the outlook is still quite bleak at the moment.
As far as the future of the shutdown goes, here are some of the latest updates:
Moderates meeting over. Senators say within a couple hours will be clear whether leaders accept proposal
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 21, 2018
-Moderates leave meeting hopeful
-Make presentations to Schumer and McConnell
– Next steps: The two leaders are expected to meet and talk it out
The latest w/ @burgessev and @eschor: https://t.co/1mGDHmXax7
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) January 21, 2018
McConnell and Schumer expected to speak privately, per Sen. King
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 21, 2018
No. 2 Senate Democrat Durbin says Democrats need some assurance the House will feel pressure to take up a Senate-passes immigration bill to move forward
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 21, 2018
And @SenDuckworth just tried to immediately pass a bill to ensure military pay and death benefits wasn't affected by the #Shutdown, and, as expected, Sen Cornyn objected.
Back to the shutdown.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 21, 2018
Also, @PressSec stmt on @SenSchumer comments on the Senate floor: "Sen. Schumer’s memory is hazy because his account of Friday’s meeting is false. "
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 21, 2018
Per the pool: Trump has spoken to @GOPLeader and @JohnCornyn on the phone today.
CoS Kelly has spoken to @SpeakerRyan & @SenateMajLdr on the phone and has updated the President on those calls.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 21, 2018
