by Chris Becker
As adult supervision returns to Congress (but not the Senate) on January 3rd, the US Government shutdown rolls on with news this morning that President Trump has invited the new Congressional leadership to the White House.
From The Hill:
Trump will host the leader and whip of each party from both chambers, a list that includes expected Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), House GOP leaders Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Steve Scalise (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), sources told The Hill.
The news of the briefing comes after a prolonged impasse in which Trump hammered Democrats as weak on border security, and Democrats set out a plan to pass bills re-opening the government in the House, which they will control starting Thursday.
Trump has demanded $5 billion to fund a border wall along the southern border, while Democrats have refused to offer anything more than an extension for 2018 border security funds that included $1.3 billion for fencing.
Will this end the shutdown or will we witness another shellacking of Trump on camera by Pelosi and Schumer?
Whatever the case, markets are wanting a fresher start to the new year after a terrible 2018, as Asian markets wake up to another day of volatility and uncertainty. The ASX200 has opened 0.5% lower this morning after the NYE holiday, but luckily with another Japanese holiday closing bond markets as well it may pay to start trading tomorrow instead.