My suggestions, which I have not heard discussed, follow. I am a lifelong Democrat, former constituent of the Speaker and commend her standing up to Trump 100%! Maybe others here have better ideas but I have not heard these three discussed.
1] UP OR DOWN VOTE: Dems should call for an up or down vote, the repubs used this often under Obama. Tell Trump if he opens the govt you will allow an up or down vote in the house and senate on his wall funding immediately. He will lose but it calls out that he has no popular support in a democratic vote. We need people out there picketing and screaming “Up or Down Vote” over and over.
2] CONTRACT TO NEVER SHUT DOWN GOV’T AGAIN: Make Trump promise in writing (a “contract”) or maybe there is a legislative way to enforce, that he will not shut down the govt for any reason for the rest of his term. Our fear is he will do it again so make him pledge not to publicly. Of course he is not to be trusted but it gives him a way out, and gives us a way to justify a paltry compromise sum toward the wall (which will never get built in his term anyway, so does it really matter?) with other concessions that have been discussed.
3) GUARANTEE BANK LOANS: Tell banks that the govt will back 100% any loans to govt employees or contractors up to the value of their paychecks. It can be withheld later, makes it a safe bet for banks. Must call for 0% interest for recipients and govt can pay banks something for processing. This calls Trump’s bluff and is almost a back door way to open govt. Same might apply to bank loans to agencies to operate up to their budget.
Thoughts?