Sen Jim Risch (R-ID)

Washington DC (670 KBOI News) – Border security and immigration reform are back in the news this week, as is a looming government shutdown, due to federal funds running out at midnight on the 21st.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sat down with President Trump to talk about those issues, and it got heated…some said the two treated the President disrespectfully.

But Idaho Senator Jim Risch says unfortunately, it’s par for the course these days.

“These people have no respect for the President, so it’s not altogether surprising that they treat him with disrespect,” said Risch.  “So, they’re negotiating, and will continue to negotiate, and the pot starts to boil, but at the end of the day, they’ve got to be resolved, one way or another, and there will be a resolution.”

He says the Democrats are just playing politics, and playing on the fears of the American people.

“They were close to it before, and I thought they’d get there.  There was a trade of some DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) relief in exchange for sealing the border, and the other side is just totally unwilling to talk about sealing the border.  I don’t understand.  A lot of people don’t understand.”

President Trump has said he’s willing to shut down the government if Congress doesn’t approve $5 billion to fund construction of a border wall.

But Risch says 75% of government functions are already funded, including the military, Social Security, and even the National Park Service.