As government shutdown drags on, Rice U. expert available to comment

Rice University
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David Ruth
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david@rice.edu

Amy McCaig
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amym@rice.edu

As government shutdown drags on, Rice U. expert available to comment

HOUSTON – (Jan. 7, 2019) – As the U.S. government shutdown moves into a third week, Rice University political scientist Paul Brace is available to discuss whether a compromise can be reached to end the partisan stalemate.

Paul Brace

Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science in Rice’s School of Social Sciences, said that there is “little evidence a resolution will come soon.”

“Democratic leaders, bolstered by newly elected progressives among their ranks, show little sign they would let President Trump off the hook for the shutdown he said he would own,” he said. “President Trump, reminded of his strong campaign promise to build a border wall by conservative personalities said to reflect his base, continues to double down on his commitment.”

Brace said the only progress, if it can be called that, seems to be in semantics.

“Steel sometimes replaces concrete, fence and curtain now substitute for wall, and each side moves glacially toward common ground on the concept, if not the details, of border security,” Brace said.

Brace is widely published, primarily in the areas of state politics and judicial decision-making. He comments regularly on presidential politics, the judiciary and the U.S. government. For more information on Brace, visit http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pbrace/.
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Paul Brace bio: https://politicalscience.rice.edu/paul-brace

Paul Brace headshot: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/news-network.rice.edu/dist/c/2/files/2016/01/Paul-Brace-1i4pyra.jpg

Photo credit: Rice University

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