The Senate’s top Democrat said Wednesday that if Republicans want bipartisanship, they’ll have to reach out and work with Democrats, rather than writing bills on their own and then coming to ask for support.
“Bipartisanship means sitting down with the other side, getting our ideas and hashing out a compromise,” Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said.
He and some of his fellow Democrats were at the White House Tuesday night for a bipartisan reception, where Mr. Trump implored them to find areas of agreement.
But a striking number of Democrats ditched the gathering, sparking questions of how much interest there is in trying to work with a president many of them have said is illegitimate.
Democrats have shown united opposition to the GOP’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, and are rallying to oppose Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, saying the president didn’t bother to get Democrats’ input before making the pick.
Mr. Schumer and fellow Democrats have said there could be an opening to work on infrastructure — an issue Mr. Trump raised during the presidential campaign.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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