(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s optimistic a resolution will be found to avoid a federal government shutdown when the fiscal year ends one week from Tuesday (Sept 23). Grassley, a Republican, says President Trump will meet with top Democrats from the U-S House and Senate on Thursday to seek options and common ground.

A so-called “clean C-R” is an agreement that simply says spending will remain exactly the same for a given period of time, with nothing additional tacked on.

Opposing Republican and Democratic funding proposals were rejected by the Senate last week. The G-O-P plan would have restored funding cuts Democrats opposed, while the Democratic funding bill aimed to extend parts of Obamacare that are scheduled to end in December. Grassley says they need to meet in the middle.

Grassley blames Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer for the shutdown showdown, while Democrats point to Republicans.