White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley on Friday said that he expects there to be bipartisan movement on infrastructure in the future, despite the partisan gridlock that has led to the two-week government shutdown.
“Infrastructure is a great example,” Gidley told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton on “Rising. “Our team went up to the hill to have these conversations about these issues.”
“Look at criminal justice reform, something we just passed with massive bipartisan support. We expect the same thing to occur with something like infrastructure,” he continued. “Our roads are crumbling, our bridges are crumbling. Our infrastructure is in bad disrepair, and the president wants those things fixed. So do Democrats.”
“How we get there, of course, is a different story, but it’s time to fix those for the American people as well,” he said.
There was bipartisan progress on the issue of criminal justice reform last month, with the passage of the First Step Act.
However, partisan gridlock is on full display in Washington as Democrats and Republicans are digging in their heels on the issue of border security as a partial government shutdown extends into its second week.
The new Democratic-controlled House on Thursday passed legislation to put an end to the shutdown, however, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated the measure would be dead on arrival in the Senate because it does not include Trump’s demanded $5 billion in border wall funding.
Democrats have said they will not pass a measure with the $5 billion in border wall funding.
Trump and congressional Democrats are slated to meet at the White House on Friday to discuss the ongoing standoff.
— Julia Manchester
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