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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 29 november 2017
Top Dems pull out of Trump meeting after his Twitter attack

By ANDREW TAYLOR “Given that the president lican leaders criticized the
Associated Press doesn’t see a deal be- absent Democrats, with
WASHINGTON (AP) — tween Democrats and the Trump vowing to “abso-
Congress’ top Democrats White House, we believe lutely blame the Demo-
abruptly pulled out of a the best path forward is to crats” if there’s a govern-
planned meeting with continue negotiating with ment shutdown, even
President Donald Trump our Republican counter- though Republicans con-
on Tuesday after he de- parts in Congress instead,” trol the White House and
clared he didn’t “see a Schumer and Pelosi said in Congress.
deal” ahead with them on a statement. On a shutdown, Trump
taxes and federal spend- “Rather than going to the said, “If it happens it’s go-
ing, casting doubt on pros- White House for a show ing to be over illegals pour-
pects for averting a gov- meeting that won’t result ing into the country, crime
ernment shutdown at the in an agreement, we’ve pouring into the country,
end of next week. asked Leader McConnell no border wall, which ev-
On Twitter just hours before and Speaker Ryan to meet In this Nov. 2, 2017 photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, eryone wants.”
the scheduled meeting at this afternoon.” D-Calif., flanked by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., left, and Senate Two empty chairs were on
the White House, Trump also That invitation was swiftly Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds a news confer- either side of the president,
ence on Capitol Hill in Washington. Top Democratic leaders in
accused Senate Minority rejected by Senate Major- Congress have abruptly pulled out of a planned meeting with with the names of Schumer
Leader Charles Schumer of ity Leader Mitch McCon- President Donald Trump after he attacked them on Twitter. and Pelosi.
New York and House Minor- nell of Kentucky and House (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Congress faces a Dec. 8
ity Leader Nancy Pelosi of Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis- deadline to pass stopgap
California of being soft on consin. the Senate Budget Com- Connell, where he was up- legislation to keep the gov-
crime, taxes and illegal im- Meanwhile, Trump on Tues- mittee advanced the bill to beat about the prospects ernment open and faces
migration. day made his third visit to the full Senate on a 12-11 for the tax bill. a slew of other unfinished
Schumer and Pelosi re- the Capitol in little more vote. “We’re in very good posi- legislation, including hur-
buffed Trump’s invitation than a month, trying to Trump met at the White tion,” he said. ricane aid and funding for
and asked instead for im- make the sale to Senate House with Ryan and Mc- The president and Repub- children’s health.q
mediate talks at the Capi- Republicans on his signa-
tol with top Republican ture tax bill.
leaders in Congress. In a boost for the measure,
Tax bill advances, final

Senate vote uncertain

Continued from Front bill to allow homeowners to
The White House celebrat- deduct at least a portion
ed the vote. of their local property taxes
“The momentum driving on their federal tax returns.
our shared priorities of job The current Senate bill re-
growth, economic compe- peals the entire state and
tiveness, and fiscal respon- local tax deduction, which
sibility through tax reform is helps more than 43 million
undeniable,” White House families reduce their fed-
press secretary Sarah eral tax bills.
Huckabee Sanders said in Collins said Trump and Sen-
a statement. ate GOP leaders agreed to
As a sweetener for some amend the bill to allow ho-
Republicans, the budget meowners to deduct up to
committee added a pro- $10,000 in property taxes,
vision to the tax bill that which is similar to a provi-
would allow oil drilling in sion in the House-passed
Alaska’s Arctic National bill.When asked if she is
Wildlife Refuge. now more likely to support
Drilling in the refuge has the bill, Collins said that is a
long been a contentious is- “fair assumption.”
sue, pitting environmental- Johnson has complained
ists against those who want that the package doesn’t
to increase domestic oil cut taxes enough for busi-
production. ness owners who report
The bill still faces hurdles in business profits on their indi-
the Senate with at least six vidual tax returns.
senators raising sometimes Corker said he is con-
contradicting concerns. cerned that the package
It got a boost Tuesday when will add to the federal
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, government’s $20 trillion
won support to amend the debt.q