Jared Golden calls for bipartisan talks with Donald Trump to resolve shutdown

LEWISTON — It is time for congressional leaders and President Donald Trump "to stop hiding and show a little leadership" to end the longest federal government shutdown in the nation's history, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden said Monday.

Golden, D-Maine, said instead of three-way talks among Trump and two Democrats — Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — the top congressional Republicans ought to be in the room negotiating as well.

Golden, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, said when he returns to the Capitol late Monday, he plans to tell colleagues that a bipartisan solution has to be worked out soon.

He said when a similar showdown in Augusta threatened to keep state government offices closed for a prolonged period, legislative leaders from both parties managed to work out a deal with GOP Gov. Paul LePage that gave the governor some of what he wanted while also providing more funding for education and Head Start, which were Democratic priorities.

Golden, a 36-year-old Marine veteran who defeated Republican Bruce Poliquin in November, said he is "very frustrated with all the leadership right now" because none of them appear to be ready to give any ground to work out a solution.

One key to reopening the federal agencies and programs, Golden said, is to include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the high-level talks that are required to break the logjam.

READ MORE: Jared Golden calls for bipartisan talks with Donald Trump to resolve shutdown