New Jersey lawmakers weigh in on government shutdown

<p>Lawmakers in New Jersey were vocal Saturday during the first full day of the government shutdown.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2018, 3:42 AM

Updated 2,298 days ago

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Lawmakers in New Jersey were vocal Saturday during the first full day of the government shutdown. 
Hours after the shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer blasted President Donald Trump as an unreliable negotiating partner.
"Negotiating with President Trump is like negotiating with Jello, it's next to impossible. As soon as you take one step forward, the hard right forces the president three steps back," said Schumer. 
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Sen. Cory Booker took to Periscope live to echo the minority leader's frustrations.  
"Our Congress has already shown us their either afraid of Donald Trump... and silence is betrayal," said Rep. Watson Coleman.  
Sen. Booker said Trump's "dysfunction" caused the shutdown. 
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted out that he held a bipartisan call with the state's congressional delegation. 
"We need to work together with our federal representatives to protect New Jersey families!" he said. 
Even Republican Rep. Tom Macarthur requested that Congress withhold his salary during this shutdown. 
In a series of tweets, President Trump has been trying to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans in November. 
It appears the shutdown will last at least through the weekend. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set a Senate vote for reopening government Monday at 1 a.m. 


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