The Latest: Pelosi ready ‘anytime’ to meet Trump on shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump, Congress and the partial government shutdown (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s willing to meet with President Donald Trump “anytime” to discuss ending the partial government shutdown.

Pelosi told reporters she’s “still optimistic” Senate Republicans will vote Thursday for the Democratic bill that would temporarily reopen government while talks are held over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build the border wall.

The speaker said House Democrats are putting together a new border security package that could provide a step toward a compromise. It will include money for fencing, technology, personnel and other measures, but not Trump’s proposed wall.

Trump responded in real time on Twitter saying, “very simply, without a Wall it all doesn’t work…. We will not Cave!”

Some 800,000 federal workers are set to miss another paycheck Friday. The government is in its 34th day of a partial shutdown.

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12:29 a.m.

The Senate’s new approach to ending the partial government shutdown actually takes votes instead of just pointing fingers. But two competing bills appear likely to fail Thursday, caught in a poisonous Washington impasse.

Either measure would reopen federal agencies and pay 800,000 federal workers who are days from missing yet another paycheck.

Republicans would couple ending the 34-day shutdown with $5.7 billion for President Donald Trump’s border wall and revamping immigration laws. Democrats would reopen agency doors for three weeks while bargainers continue to seek a budget deal.

Twin defeats might spur the two sides into a more serious effort to reach an agreement. With the impact of the shutdown becoming increasingly painful, lawmakers say they’re willing to compromise on border security and immigration policy.

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For AP’s complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown