GOPers skip wall funding in spend bill
Done via executive order. Done via executive order. Promise exceeded, with Neil Gorsuch (below) already sworn in. Accomplished. Threatened to withhold some grants in an executive order, which a judge has frozen. His two travel ban orders have been blocked by federal courts. Hasn’t been proposed. Bill died before coming to a vote. which would fully fund construction of wall along the border with Mexico. Wall funding is currently in limbo.
Has not done so, citing the need for China’s help with North Korea. WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans have made an offer to keep the government funded without any demands for funding to begin construction of a border wall, paving the way for an agreement to avoid a shutdown in the coming days.
“The latest GOP omnibus offer does not contain money for the wall,” a Democratic staffer involved in the negotiations told the Daily News.
The offer comes after President Trump backed off his insistence on getting money for a border wall with Mexico in the ongoing negotiations, after Capitol Hill GOP leaders made it clear to him that there wouldn’t be enough votes to get that done. Trump told a group of conservative journalists Monday evening that he wouldn’t insist on the border fight being a part of the ongoing negotiations to keep the government open.
Congressional leaders in both parties expressed optimism that they’ll be able to avoid a costly and damaging government shutdown, either by striking a deal by the Friday deadline or passing a shortterm funding extension to finish the deal next week.
“We’re moving forward on reaching an agreement on a bipartisan basis to fund the government. Hopefully, we’ll reach that agreement sometime in the next couple of days,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, “The fact that the wall is now off the table — Americans should breathe a huge sigh of relief.”
The White House is refusing to admit that it backed off on forcing the issue, while tacitly admitting it will look to fight for funds down the line rather than force a shutdown now.
“Don’t let the fake media tell you that I have changed my position on the WALL. It will get built and help stop drugs, human trafficking etc.,” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters there would be funds in the bill for “border security and national security and national defense,” but he notably didn’t mention that there would be specific funds for the wall.