FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) - Congressman Jim Banks stopped by the FOX 55 studio Sunday to discuss the state of Washington since the government reopened this week.
"The government shutdown has ended, but we still have three short weeks to come up with some type of proposal to fund that part of the government for the next several months for the next fiscal year, and continue to meet the president's demand for border security dollars," Banks said.
Banks hopes the Democrats can come to an agreement with President Trump to keep the government from shutting down again. He's also hoping Nancy Pelosi will reinvite President Trump to deliver The State of the Union.
"The American people expect that. This is a long-time tradition in our country and for her to cancel it, i thought was petty," Banks said.
Banks also said he does not blame Trump for the record long shutdown, despite the president saying he would take responsbility for it to secure the southern border with a wall.
"There is a lot of good reason to build it, to fund it. I support it, but now we have three weeks to try to come up with a better proposal to do that," he said.
Banks said he hopes the battle over the border wall doesn't lead to a national emergency, but said President Trump does have the authority to do so.
"I know he doesn't want to do that if he doesn't have to. He wants congress to do its job. So far, congress has failed to do that," he said.
Banks will be in New Haven Monday morning before heading back to Washington.