Spending deal starts tunnel fix

A BUDGET deal hammered out by lawmakers Wednesday averts a government shutdown and provides $540 million for part of a long-stalled rail tunnel project under the Hudson River.

The bill will also provide $2.9 billion in discretionary grants to the Department of Transportation, dollars that “have funded projects like Gateway before,” a source said.

The funds for the sorely needed Hudson River Gateway project will be part of a $1.3 trillion budget bill finalized Wednesday night.

“Every bill takes compromise, and there was plenty here, but at the end of the day we Democrats feel very good because so many of our priorities for the middle class were included,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

The top four leaders of both the House and Senate sat down to go over final details and compromises.

President Trump had vowed to veto the bill if a down payment for the infrastructure project was included, but he too declared victory over the compromise.

“Got $1.6 Billion to start Wall on Southern Border, rest will be forthcoming,” the president tweeted. “Most importantly, got $700 Billion to rebuild our Military, $716 Billion next year...most ever. Had to waste money on Dem giveaways in order to take care of military pay increase and new equipment.”