Tulsi Gabbard: Shutdown ‘negotiations shouldn’t be done on television’

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) said Sunday that negotiations to end the ongoing partial government shutdown “shouldn’t be done on television,” following a televised offer made by President Trump on Saturday.

Gabbard, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, on CNN’s “State of the Union” blasted “partisan politics” for taking over negotiations. However, she said “no” when asked if she’s willing to take Trump’s latest offer.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hawaii Rep. @TulsiGabbard says the negotiations to end the current shutdown “shouldn’t be done on television”: “Both sides have completely hardened their positions and are unwilling to come together to work out the differences.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/4gM9EKUHzh

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 20, 2019

{mosads}The shutdown is almost a month long, with lawmakers and Trump deadlocked on his desire for $5.7 billion in funding to build a wall on the southern U.S. border. Trump on Saturday suggested linking money to build a border wall to temporary protections for some undocumented immigrants.

Democrats have indicated they will reject the offer, with many saying the temporary protections don’t go far enough.

Gabbard indicated both sides need to soften their positions in negotiations.

“If a Republican is putting forward a proposal, Democrats are going to shoot it down. If Democrats are putting forward a proposal, Republicans are going to shoot it down,” she said. “Really thinking about which party can call a win on this issue. Again, which happens with far too many issues. And as a result, the American people end up losing out.”

“Both sides have hardened their positions and are unwilling to come together and work out the differences. That’s the problem here,” she continued.

“Let’s figure out how we can work out the differences that we can, putting forward the best solution for the American our federal employees and contractors and their families have gone on for far too long suffering as a result of this intransigence where people are putting politics before the well-being of the American people and our country.”