“This senseless shutdown will finally come to an end,” says Senator Amy Klobuchar after President Trump today announced a deal to re-open the federal government for three weeks — no money for his border wall — while congressional leaders and the president continue trying to hammer out a long-term agreement. Klobuchar says, “we’re in the exact same place we were five weeks ago, but our workers, our economy, and our country have seriously suffered.” She says President Trump “needs to stop playing games.” Fifth District Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says, “The badly scripted House of Cards episode is finally coming to an end.” If Congress agrees, the temporary agreement Trump announced today would allow affected government workers to get back to work, with furloughed employees getting back pay.
State officials are re-assessing the situation, after yesterday’s warning from Governor Tim Walz about the looming effect of the continued federal government shutdown on those receiving food and housing assistance. Walz said, “That picture is bleak. It is cruel. It will cause real pain and real disruption to many, many Minnesotans.”