The White House changed its voicemail message to blame congressional Democrats for failing to pass a budget over partisan squabbles on immigration.
“Unfortunately, we cannot answer your call today because Congressional Democrats are holding government funding—including funding for our troops and other national security priorities—hostage to an unrelated immigration debate,” the recording says.
The message, which was recorded for the White House’s public comment line, said calls could not be answered because of the “obstruction” from Democrats.
“Due to this obstruction, the government is shut down,” the recording continued.
The message ended by informing callers that they can leave comments for President Trump on the White House website contact page until the government reopens. – READ MORE
[give_form id=”79809″] [divider][/divider]President Trump blamed Democratic lawmakers for a government shutdown Saturday, accusing them of “holding our Military hostage” over their demand that a short-term spending bill include protection for illegal immigrants brought to the country as children.
“Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration,” he tweeted. “Can’t let that happen!”
Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
Earlier in the day, he blasted Democrats for playing ‘Shutdown politics’ instead of working to make a deal with their counterparts across the aisle.- READ MORE
[give_form id=”79809″] [divider][/divider]White House officials insisted there will be no negotiations on including DACA amnesty into the government funding resolution despite Senate Democrats’ shutdown of the government on Saturday.
“We will not negotiate over the status of people here unlawfully while Democrats shut down the government of the millions who are here lawfully,” a White House aide told Breitbart News on Saturday.
White House director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short and White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney confirmed the sentiment in a briefing with reporters at the White House.
Short said that while they were open to further discussions on a DACA deal, they did not want a deal attached to the continuing resolution to fund the government.
“[W]e’re not going to be held hostage and let our troops be held hostage over this,” he said. “When they reopen the government, we will continue the discussions.”
Short said that Trump’s success in his first year as president was partially what prompted Democrats to shut down the government, accusing them of trying to impress leftist activists. – READ MORE
[contentcards url=”http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/21/white-house-voicemail-government-closed-because-democrats-holding-military-funding-hostage/” target=”_blank”]