Leaders Start Shutdown Talks After Trump Eases Wall Threat

[Shabibilicious]

Leaders start shutdown talks after Trump eases wall threat

LISA MASCARO, MATTHEW DALY and CATHERINE LUCEY

Associated Press•December 18, 2018

 

 

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The Capitol is seen at twilight in Washington, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. The fight over President Donald Trump's $5 billion wall funds deepened Monday, threatening a partial government shutdown in a standoff that has become increasingly common in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Republican and Democratic leaders began negotiating Tuesday after the White House indicated President Donald Trump does not want a federal government shutdown over his demand for $5 billion for the border wall with Mexico.

During a meeting on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed $1.6 billion for border fencing, as outlined in a bipartisan Senate bill, plus an additional $1 billion that Trump could use on the border, according to a senior Democratic aide unauthorized to speak about the private meeting.

Democrats are likely to reject that, the aide said, characterizing the additional $1 billion as a "slush fund."

But the meeting between the top leaders, after the White House's willingness to back down from Trump's $5 billion demand, offered the first signs of a movement after days of impasse as the clock ticks down toward Friday's funding deadline.

Without a resolution, more than 800,000 government workers could be furloughed or sent to work without pay, disrupting government operations days before the Christmas holiday.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called it a "good sign" that the White House appeared to be backing off its demands.

Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have proposed $1.3 billion. That money would not be for a wall, but for border fencing.

As she entered a meeting in Schumer's office, Pelosi said the "slush fund" is not acceptable. "What they might want to do with that $1 billion dollars is problematic," Pelosi told reporters.

"Right now, what they've offered, we have not accepted."

The White House showed a willingness to budge earlier Tuesday as it became apparent the president does not have support in Congress for funding the wall at the $5 billion level he wants.

While Trump said last week he would be "proud" to have a shutdown over the wall funding, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday said are "other ways" to secure the $5 billion that he wants.

"At the end of the day, we don't want to shut down the government," Sanders said on Fox News. "We want to shut down the border from illegal immigration."

Sanders pointed to one bill, likely referring to the Senate's bipartisan appropriation measure for the Department of Homeland Security, which provides $26 billion, including $1.6 billion for fencing and other barriers. It was approved by the committee in summer on a bipartisan vote.

"That's something that we would be able to support," she said, as long as it's coupled with other funding, such as using defense money on border security.

What other funds could be tapped to satisfy the president's demand remains unclear. Asked about using military funds, Sanders said, "There's certainly a number of different funding sources that we've identified that we can use that we can couple with the money that would be given through Congressional appropriations that would help us get to that $5 billion that the president needs in order to protect our borders."

The fight over Trump's border wall has brought Congress to a familiar standoff, this time just days before Christmas.

It wasn't always like this, with Congress and the White House at a crisis over government funding. The House and Senate used to pass annual appropriation bills, and the president signed them into law. But in recent years the shutdown scenario has become routine.

A partial shutdown that could occur at midnight Friday risks disrupting government operations and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay over the holiday season. Costs would be likely in the billions of dollars.

Trump was meeting with his team and getting regular updates, Sanders said. Trump has also tweeted to keep up the pressure.

Exiting a Senate Republican leadership meeting late Monday, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said, "It looks like it probably is going to have to build for a few days here before there's a solution."

It's unclear how many House Republicans, with just a few weeks left in the majority before relinquishing power to House Democrats, will even show up midweek for possible votes. Speaker Paul Ryan's office had no update. Many Republicans say it's up to Trump and Democrats to cut a deal.

 

McConnell and Trump talk most days, but the senator's spokesman would not confirm if they spoke Monday about a plan. McConnell opened the chamber hoping for a "bipartisan collaborative spirit" that would enable Congress to finish its work.

"We need to make a substantial investment in the integrity of our border," McConnell said. "And we need to close out the year's appropriation process."

Meanwhile, more than 800,000 government workers are preparing for the uncertainty ahead.

The dispute could affect nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice, as well as national parks and forests.

About half the workers would be forced to continue working without immediate pay. Others would be sent home. Congress often approves their pay retroactively, even if they were ordered to stay home.

"Our members are asking how they are supposed to pay for rent, food, and gas if they are required to work without a paycheck," said a statement from J. David Cox, Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the large federal worker union. "The holiday season makes these inquiries especially heart-wrenching."

Many agencies, including the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, are already funded for the year and will continue to operate as usual, regardless of whether Congress and the president reach agreement this week.

Congress already approved funding this year for about 75 percent of the government's discretionary account for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

The U.S. Postal Service, busy delivering packages for the holiday season, wouldn't be affected by any government shutdown because it's an independent agency.

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Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report.

 

GO RV, then BV  

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

 

Okay cadaver Pelosi... feel like yer winnin' do ya...?

... yuh.... you n' yer ilk just keep watchin' him...

 

Won't be the first time he pulls the rug out from under you self-proclaimed 'geniuses' !  

 

Wait for it... wait for it.... tick, tick, tick.....      "Art of the Deal" and BANG ! 

 

,

[Karsten]

For Shabs.

 

 

 

Karsten

[Karsten]

 

Karsten

 

[Sage449]

Would be nice to see the dems fold for a change. 

[markb57]

Shut it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

1 hour ago, Karsten said:

 

Karsten

 

 

***///

 

This is OUTRAGEOUS !  

 

If Trump cuts all the stupid, self-serving B.S. grants the demonrats have been doling out to each other,

it'd solve the major part of the problem for sure !

They specialize in spending OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY !

 

OUR money to teach little CHI-COM kids how to cross a friggin' street...?!   WTF...?!!! 

The Demonrats can't waste enough of our money on their kommie pals here, they gotta

send it to their kommie pals in china...?

 

Trump could start cutting it ALL off by getting rid of all the deep state rats in the DOJ & FBI...

 

And why did all those criminals over at the IRS ho'bummer wielded like a tool of destruction get no jail time

and walked away with HUGE retirement BENEFITS instead... ON OUR DIME...?!

THAT's a WASTE of our TaxPayer Dollars right there !

 

Why do private kommie universities get OUR Tax Dollars to pay 6-figure salaries to jerk-offs whose "job" it is

to tell our kids' they no longer have Freedom of Speech & can't carry their Bibles on Campus...?

 

.

[Karsten]

15 minutes ago, SgtFuryUSCZ said:

 

***///

 

This is OUTRAGEOUS !  

 

If Trump cuts all the stupid, self-serving B.S. grants the demonrats have been doling out to each other,

it'd solve the major part of the problem for sure !

They specialize in spending OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY !

 

OUR money to teach little CHI-COM kids how to cross a friggin' street...?!   WTF...?!!! 

The Demonrats can't waste enough of our money on their kommie pals here, they gotta

send it to their kommie pals in china...?

 

Trump could start cutting it ALL off by getting rid of all the deep state rats in the DOJ & FBI...

 

And why did all those criminals over at the IRS ho'bummer wielded like a tool of destruction get no jail time

and walked away with HUGE retirement BENEFITS instead... ON OUR DIME...?!

THAT's a WASTE of our TaxPayer Dollars right there !

 

Why do private kommie universities get OUR Tax Dollars to pay 6-figure salaries to jerk-offs whose "job" it is

to tell our kids' they no longer have Freedom of Speech & can't carry their Bibles on Campus...?

 

.

 

 

You know that is all some great thinking.....Just to think about Trump Putting an End to Funding Palestine, to stop the funding to PPH to murder babies,  Term Limits, No more Life Long Pension for doing nothing.......Imagine what Alexandria Cortez O Bimbo is going to make for the rest of her life for not even knowing her one party color. $174,000 a year for the rest of her life because she serviced 1 Term........

 

Take a few minutes to read this......Sorry it doesn't copy and paste so well.

 

Please read 28th amendment Please Read, and forward. This will only take 1 minute to read! 28th Amendment, 35 States and Counting. It will take you less than a minute to read this. If you agree, please pass it on. It's an idea whose time has come to deal with this self-serving situation: OUR PRESENT SITUATION ! Children of Congress members do not have to pay back their college student loans. Staffers of Congress family members are also exempt from having to pay back student loans. Members of Congress can retire at full pay after only one term. Members of Congress have exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed, under which ordinary citizens must live. For example, they are exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment. And as the latest example, they have exempted themselves from Healthcare Reform, in all of its aspects. We must not tolerate an elite class of such people, elected as public servants and then putting themselves above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent, or whatever. The self-serving must stop. Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon their states.It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention. IF??? Each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days most people in The United States of America will have the message. Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the Citizens of the United States ..." You are one of my 20. 6:26 PM President Trump is asking everyone to forward this email to a minimum of 20 people, and to ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in the United States will have the message. This is an idea that should be passed around, regardless of political party. The TRUMP Rules: Congressional Reform Act of 2017 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. And, no more perks go with them. 2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress must purchase their own retirement plan, just as ALL Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people (i.e. NO MORE INSIDER TRADING!!!). 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congress made all these contracts by and for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor and privlidge NOT a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work … not get all kinds of freebies. NO WONDER THEY’RE FIGHTING EVERYTHING HE TRIES! Pass it on!!!! Let's help TRUMP drain the swamp!! Just hold your finger down then hit forward and send it to everyone you know. Let’s help trump get the country straightened out.

 

 

 

 

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***//

 

Oh yes, we did see this & it is beyond the pale ! 

 

Thanks, K-DOG ! 

[Karsten]

2 minutes ago, SgtFuryUSCZ said:

***//

 

Oh yes, we did see this & it is beyond the pale ! 

 

Thanks, K-DOG ! 

Wrong Video.....What is going on here.

 

It was supposed to be.

 

 

 

Karsten

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///  

[Shabibilicious]

There is no 28th Amendment.  

 

GO RV, then BV

[coorslite21]

Trump is making great progress with his border security...numbers are way down and will only get better with the defeat of the caravan movement....if it needs to be done he can use the US Military for that....Seems he is just trying to drive home a point that the left seems to care more about the illegals than the US citizens......bottom  line is the illegal problem costs hundreds of $billions yearly.....I'd rather see those funds to to struggling veterans or US citizens......time to take care of our own before we try to save the world from itself.....CL

 

[CSM (R) Thack]

1 hour ago, coorslite21 said:

bottom  line is the illegal problem costs hundreds of $billions yearly.....I'd rather see those funds to to struggling veterans or US citizens......time to take care of our own before we try to save the world

Well said!!!👍🇺🇸

[Shabibilicious]

‘Fox & Friends’ Turns on Trump, Kellyanne Conway for ‘Softening’ on Border Wall Funding

 Jon Levine,The Wrap 4 hours ago 

 

“Fox & Friends” was not happy after news emerged Tuesday that President Trump will back down from his threat to shut down the government if Congress does not allocate funding for his long-promised border wall. On set, show co-host Steve Doocy expressed disbelief and called it a victory for Democrats and Nancy Pelosi.

“What a stunning turn of events,” Doocy said. “If he agrees to the [continuing resolution] which would continue funding the government at the current levels … he loses and the Democrats will win everything they want.”

“Some are wondering ‘is this a win for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer?'” fellow co-host Ainsley Earhardt said, to which Doocy shouted “yes” before she could even finish her sentence.

Also Read: 'Fox & Friends' Apologizes After Kid Rock Says: 'Screw That Joy Behar *****' (Video)

Things only got more hostile after White House counselor Kellyanne Conway came on set.

“The president has no leverage,” Brian Kilmeade said.

“That’s not true, the president always has leverage, I disagree with that,” Conway shot back.

“Where does it come from?” Kilmeade demanded.

“Paul Ryan doesn’t want the wall,” Doocy added before Conway could fully answer.

Per usual, Conway attempted to deflect any blame away from Trump and instead criticized congressional Republicans for “taking the path of least resistance” and of course, the House’s incoming Democratic majority — but the show was not having it.

Also Read: 'Fox & Friends' Slams Oprah for Promoting 'Far Left's Socialist Agenda' (Video)

“People who voted for him and want the wall and went to the polls to vote for that wall, they want to know how he’s going to do this and they want to know why he seems to be softening his stance this morning,” Earhardt said.

As Doocy noted, it was only a week ago that Trump took a combative tone with “Chuck and Nancy” in the Oval Office and said bluntly he would be prepared to shut down the government if the border wall (originally supposed to be paid for by Mexico) were not fully funded by the Congress.

 

Donald's favorite talking heads over at Fox News have been pretty successful convincing Trump to fly right to keep his base happy.  We'll see if this outrage of theirs will sway him in the waning moments before the shutdown deadline.

 

GO RV, then BV

[bostonangler]

Oh brother... Anyone want to buy a bridge in Brooklyn?

 

B/A

[caz1104]

No Wall, No Repeal of Obamadrainthecounrtycare, ,  No drain the swamp & MAGA is now just a pipe dream. With Dems leading us & country DOWN the rabbit hole. ,......I hate to say it but Tumps tough guy persona is all cream-o-wheat at this point

Edited December 19, 2018 by caz1104

[Shabibilicious]

Senate approves stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown

 MARIAM KHAN,Good Morning America 4 hours ago 

 

 

 

The Senate approved a plan Wednesday night that appeared all but certain to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the day Friday, allowing lawmakers to go home for the holidays and setting up a short-term spending bill to fund the government until Feb. 8.

"The measure will provide the resources necessary to continue normal operations through February 8th," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on the Senate floor earlier on Wednesday.

Under the McConnell proposal, the government would be funded until Feb. 8 and President Donald Trump would get border security funding at the current level, which does not include money to build a new wall.

"We will turn to a clean continuing resolution later today, so we can make sure we don’t end this year the way we began it -- with another government shutdown because of Democrats’ allergy to sensible immigration policies," McConnell said.

Following the Senate vote, the measure goes on to the House. If the House passes it, it will head to the president's desk for his signature.

White House counselor KellyAnne Conway, asked Wednesday whether the president would consider such a measure, said, "He'll take a look at that, certainly." At the same time. Conway denied Trump was "softening his stance" from last week that he would take the blame for a shutdown in order to get border wall funding.

But McConnell's announcement also came with a dig at his colleagues across the aisle.

“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the President has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders and the safety of American families," McConnell said. "But this seems to be the reality of our political moment. It seems like political spite for the president may be winning out over sensible policy -- even sensible policies that are more modest than border security allocations which many Democrats supported themselves, in the recent past."

The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, signaled on the floor Wednesday morning that his caucus will support the

stopgap measure.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/mcconnell-announces-stopgap-funding-bill-avert-shutdown-161903610--abc-news-topstories.html

 

GO RV, then BV

[bostonangler]

McConnell is so full of it... that clown needs to take his lifetime benefits and go home.... His dig at partisanship is so laughable... He needs to put on makeup and big red clown shoes...

 

B/A

[Shabibilicious]

I honestly believe Donald will cave and not sign......the pressure from Fox News and his base will be too much to bear.

 

GO RV, then BV

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Anyone who actually thinks POTUS will sign that chickafide wussy CS has to be operating under extreme low IQ mentally. For him to do that would be like shooting himself in the head. Trump ain't that stupid. 

[Shabibilicious]

3 minutes ago, ladyGrace'sDaddy said:

Anyone who actually thinks POTUS will sign that chickafide wussy CS has to be operating under extreme low IQ mentally. For him to do that would be like shooting himself in the head. Trump ain't that stupid. 

 

Just making an innocent copy of this statement for the record....in case the original magically disappears.  Poof!!!

 

GO RV, then BV

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

12 minutes ago, ladyGrace'sDaddy said:

Anyone who actually thinks POTUS will sign that chickafide wussy CS has to be operating under extreme low IQ mentally. For him to do that would be like shooting himself in the head. Trump ain't that stupid. 

[yota691]

Looks like the Funds for the walls are being collected by the American people..A go fund me has been established an the amount already pledge is HUGEEEEE...

[Indraman]

19 minutes ago, yota691 said:

Looks like the Funds for the walls are being collected by the American people..A go fund me has been established an the amount already pledge is HUGEEEEE...

 

There are going to be a lot of people related to this venture with a lot of extra money laying around...some are planning to get involved with humanitarian projects. May be we make this one of the top projects to donate to and make the "WALL" a reality in a very short time.

 

Indy