Trump distrust keeps Democrats out of ‘gang’

As the government shutdown enters its third week, Capitol Hill is deadlocked and Democrats say a lack of trust in President Donald Trump is a major obstacle to negotiations.

In past legislative disputes, two-party coalitions known as “caucuses” were formed to break gridlock. The groups helped create the early framework for major deals before gaining support from leaders and other lawmakers.

These gangs are nowhere to be found in the current funding cut, which has already lasted longer than most previous government shutdowns.

“What good is the agreement of a gang of four, eight or twelve people when the president of the United States sees himself as his own law and ignores the norms and rules?” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told CNBC.

There have also been bipartisan talks around Democrats’ key demand: an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance premiums, which would expire at the end of the year.

But no specific groups have met to discuss these details or more broadly to negotiate an end to the shutdown.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who supports expanding tax credits, said he has had conversations with multiple Democratic senators but no specific group has emerged.

“What’s different about this is that I don’t feel any merging,” Hawley said. “There doesn’t seem to be any momentum for people to say, ‘Okay, we really need to make a deal.’

Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D. and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have argued that no negotiations can take place until the government reopens. They need the support of about eight Senate Democrats to pass an interim bill that would temporarily maintain federal funding at current levels.

Thune told MSNBC On Wednesday, he suggested Democratic leaders vote on extending Obamacare subsidies in exchange for opening up the government.

But Democrats have expressed strong skepticism about any handshake deal with Republicans.

“We need a solid path forward to decisively address the Republican health crisis.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DY, he said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“They can’t be trusted on the wing and the prayer,” Jeffries said.

Democrats are wary that Trump could undermine any agreement with Republican lawmakers, as he has in the past. For example, a bipartisan immigration reform proposal introduced last year collapsed after Trump publicly opposed it.

Some Democrats are now calling on Trump to join the talks himself.

“They seem to be following his lead on everything,” Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said of his GOP colleagues on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday.

“This is how this is going to end,” Kelly said.

What further erodes trust is the willingness of the Trump administration. canceling billions of dollars in funding approved by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told reporters.

“There has been a loss of trust between Senate Democrats and the Administration and the House over what has happened over the last six to nine months regarding respect for the bipartisan spending bills that were enacted last year,” Coons said. he said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Year) of avoiding negotiations to appease progressives in his party and previously condemned him after voting to fund the government in March.

“I think he’s afraid of coming to some kind of agreement like we usually do in these circumstances because he’s going to be attacked by his progressive, radical base,” Cornyn said of Schumer.

Schumer was part of the “Gang of Eight” that helped pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate in 2013.

Hawley said Democrats are comfortable maintaining distance.

“I think people, especially Democrats, are quite happy to leave the government closed,” he said.

Democrats have reason to feel confident, at least for now: Many polls show that more Americans are blaming Republicans for the shutdown.

The latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey found that 53 percent of respondents would blame Trump, Congressional Republicans, or both if the shutdown caused serious economic damage, while 37 percent would blame Democrats.

The survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from Oct. 8-12 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.