Trump refuses to end shutdown

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump rejected a suggestion from Republican lawmakers to partially reopen the federal government as efforts continued to find funding for a wall along the Mexico border.

“That was a suggestion that Lindsey (Graham, Republican senator) made but I did reject it yes. I’m not interested,” Trump said. “I want to get it solved. I don’t want to just delay it.”

Graham suggested reopening the government for a few weeks as negotiations continued. “Before he pulls the plug on the legislative option...I would urge them to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks,” Graham told Fox News Sunday, referring to a move being considered by Trump to declare a national emergency.

Republicans have opposed national emergency, with some saying such a move would open the door for Democrats to use the instrument to push their agenda, such as climate change.

Trump called out to Democrats to resume negotiations and sought to blame them for the shutdown. “Nancy and Cryin’ Chuck can end the Shutdown in 15 minutes,” he tweeted, referring to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. “At this point it has become their, and the Democrats, fault!”

In another tweet, he complained he has been waiting in vain for them in the White House.

The president has sought $5.7 billion for a wall along the border with Mexico.

PIZZA FROM CANADA FOR AIR TRAFFIC STAFF

Canadian air traffic controllers have bought hundreds of pizzas for their American counterparts over the past few days in what has become an industry-wide show of support during the US government’s partial shutdown.

Peter Duffey, the head of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association, said on Sunday the initiative began on Thursday when employees at Edmonton’s control centre took up a collection to buy pies for controllers in Anchorage, Alaska. Other facilities across Canada decided to join in, and the idea snowballed. “The next thing we knew, our members were buying pizzas left, right and center for the colleagues in the US,” Duffey said.

“As it stands right now, I believe we’re up to 36 facilities that have received pizza from Canada, and that number is growing by the hour.”