Leaders of the nonpartisan National Governors Association are calling on President Donald Trump and Congress to end the partial government shutdown.
In a letter sent late Monday, they said a “shutdown should not be a negotiating tactic as disagreements are resolved” and warned that the shutdown, now in its 18th day, is impacting residents and state governments.
The letter was signed by the organization’s chairman, Montana Democrat Steve Bullock, and vice-chairman, Maryland Republican Larry Hogan.
While the letter doesn’t bear all their signatures, the organization represents some of the most prominent politicians in the nation from both major parties. Governors do not have a direct role in striking a federal budget deal.
In the letter, the governors don’t take a stance on whether a wall should be built on the border with Mexico — which Trump has insisted on. Instead, it argues that a shutdown isn’t an appropriate way to handle policy disputes.
“Governors stand united in telling the federal government to open the doors of currently shuttered agencies while you find a long-term, bipartisan compromise on the issues that currently divide Washington,” the letter says.
The organization says governors are seeing a toll from the shutdown — and that it could get worse.
About 800,000 federal employees are furloughed or working without pay, leading to financial struggles for them and “potentially siphoning dollars from state economies.”
The governors also warn that federal court operations could be curtailed by next week and that shorelines face a safety risk because of reduced Coast Guard capabilities.
Little late to the party with this statement. Shutdowns over the past 10 years or so have become the de facto highly publicized, negotiating tactic of the GOP.
Mommie’s Dearest doesn’t have a clue and his thinking is in sharp contrast to people who work for a living and bipartisan governors.
This is real simple and I’m sure the Dems will say it after the idiot speaks tonight.
Now that you created the humanitarian crisis at the border, you must take the remaining funds you already have and care for the people you have put at risk.
And, not another dime until you agree to open the government across the board.
“In the letter, the governors don’t take a stance on whether a wall should be built on the border with Mexico —”
A week ago the House passed bills to reopen government. They are identical to what passed in the Senate prior to the shutdown. All Mitch needs to do is bring those bills to the floor for a vote. They will pass and if POTUS uses a veto then over ride him.
ETA: Republicans cannot govern and POTUS is incompetent.