Government shutdown likely to stretch into next week

WASHINGTON (AP):

Chances look slim for ending the partial government shutdown any time soon.

House lawmakers are being told not to expect further votes this week, all but ensuring the shutdown will enter a second week and stretch towards the new year.

Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will get 24 hours' notice before having to return for a vote. And although both the House the Senate were slated to come into session briefly Thursday afternoon, few senators or representatives were expected to be around for it.

President Donald Trump is vowing to hold the line on his demand for money to build a border wall. Back from the 29-hour trip to visit US troops, Trump tweeted yesterday that "we desperately need" a wall on the Mexico border, funding for which has been a flashpoint between the White House and Congress ever since Trump took office.

He called on Democrats in Congress to fund his wall, saying the shutdown affects their supporters. He asserted without evidence: "Do the Dems realise that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?"

Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner called Trump's comments "outrageous". In his tweet, he added: "Federal employees don't go to work wearing red or blue jerseys. They're public servants. And the president is treating them like poker chips at one of his failed casinos."