White House officials head to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for budget talks with congressional leaders ahead of a mid-January deadline to avert a federal shutdown that could imperil President Trump’s agenda. “Democrats are focused on fulfilling the many long-overdue, bipartisan priorities facing the American people,” Pelosi wrote in a letter Tuesday to House Democrats. Trump, who had met with congressional leaders to broker early budget deals, is instead sending budget director Mick Mulvaney and legislative director Marc Short to restart Wednesday’s talks. She said the meetings this week would touch on various issues, including immigration, healthcare, infrastructure and welfare reform. Trump is expected to meet later this week separately with GOP leaders to map out the party’s 2018 agenda.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 03, 2018 01:07 UTC