AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders Calls on President Trump to Accept House and Senate Proposals to End Shutdown

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders called on President Donald Trump to accept Democratic proposals put forward this week by House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to end the government shutdown. The proposal is a product of bipartisan negotiations to fund the majority of affected agencies that are not party to the current dispute over border security. In addition, the proposal would allow time for continued negotiations over border security, and the Department of Homeland Security would be funded through Feb. 8: 

“It is time to end the shutdown that is denying millions of Americans critical public services and unnecessarily hurting nearly 800,000 dedicated public service workers, their families and communities. Speaker-designate Pelosi and Leader Schumer should be commended for working to end the shutdown and for putting forward a commonsense proposal with provisions that already have bipartisan support in the House and Senate. I call on President Trump and members of Congress to support the deal. Refusal to do so, all to satisfy a divisive single demand, shows a blatant lack of respect for the service of the people who keep our communities safe, healthy and strong.”