The slow trudge to a government shutdown played out Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
“They want the Democrats to fight,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachusetts.
“There is no reason for a shutdown,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican.
Democrats and Republicans are sparring over federal spending, with Democrats demanding health care policy changes and extensions while Republicans call for more time to negotiate.
GOP leaders proposed a short-term bill to fund the government.
“Nothing is inevitable, but I would say it’s probably likely,” said President Donald Trump.
Massachusetts state leaders watching from afar are discussing an already uncertain economic picture and the impacts a shutdown could have.
“You expect to see things you haven’t seen before,” said Doug Howgate with the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “The real answer is we don’t know.”
“There can be real cash flow and other challenges that accrue to those institutions who might be waiting for federal payments,” said Michael Goodman of UMass Dartmouth.
Local strategists urging each side to hold the line.
“I would implore the Republican Party to come to the table, listen to Democrats,” said Democratic Strategist Jesse Mermell.
“My sense is Democrats will blink, and I think you’re going to have a chance to address some of these legislative priorities for Democrats through the normal policy-making process going forward,” said Republican Strategist Ozzie Palomo.
The split seems to be firmly in place as the shutdown clock ticks closer to midnight.
“This one is more politics than policy,” said Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana.
“We’re going to see what happens, if they come together in a last-minute negotiation with us, or if we’re in a shutdown,” said House Minority Katherine Clark, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts.