Free Republic

Democrats on Wednesday strongly suggested they are open to a compromise with President Trump even as they unveiled an initial proposal for securing the border that includes no physical barriers. Democratic leaders emerged from a bipartisan budget meeting on border security taking a hard line on Trump’s proposed border wall, while hinting they were open to a deal. “We will expand on the $1.6 billion for border security-related programs that House Democrats have already passed,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said at a conference committee meeting. She said smart border security would not be overly reliant on physical...

The House and Senate this week voted overwhelmingly to provide back pay to about 800,000 federal workers who are going without paychecks because of the partial government shutdown. But seven lawmakers — all House Republicans — opposed the measure. Those "no" votes came from Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Glen Grothman (Wis.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Ted Yoho (Fla.). President Trump on Thursday indicated he would sign the bill, leading to its passage by unanimous consent in the Senate later that day. On Friday, the House cleared the measure in a 411-7...

Casting himself as a key opposing figure to President Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo invoked the name of Trump's immigrant grandfather in a Tuesday speech at Ellis Island. "This is the harbor where Fredrick Trump arrived from Germany, and whose grandson would become President of the United States," Cuomo said at his third inaugural address, rattling off a list of dignitaries whose parents and grandparents came through the island, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Vice President Mike Pence. "This is not a faded memory of yesterday, but rather a shining beacon...