Talks continue on $1.3T catchall spending bill

Top-level congressional talks on a $1.3 trillion catchall spending bill are reaching a critical stage as negotiators confront immigration, abortion-related issues and a battle over a rail project that pits President Donald Trump against one of his Democratic foes.

The bipartisan measure is loaded with political and policy victories for both sides. Republicans and President Donald Trump are winning a long-sought budget increase for the Pentagon while Democrats obtain funding for infrastructure, the opioid crisis and several domestic programs.

The bill would implement last month’s big budget agreement, providing 10 percent increases for both the Pentagon and domestic agencies when compared with current levels.

Trump has threatened to veto the whole package if a $900 million payment is made on the Hudson River Gateway Project, a priority of Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York. Trump’s opposition is alarming northeastern Republicans such as Gateway supporter Peter King, R-N.Y., who lobbied Trump on the project at a St. Patrick’s luncheon in the Capitol on Thursday.