Trump poised to win $5 billion to build border wall

Washington Examiner ^ | September 14,2018 | Paul Bedard

[Hojczyk]

President Trump and congressional leaders have agreed to a border wall funding showdown after the upcoming November midterm elections and if he plays his cards right, it could result in $5 billion, more than twice what the White House initially sought.

While appropriations bills are moving at the fastest pace in over 20 years, with many expected to be approved by Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal year, Homeland Security funding for the wall is likely to be delayed, said officials.

Plans are already underway to approve temporary, “stopgap,” funding that will cover Homeland until its new spending is approved after the wall funding fight.

However, in a good sign for the White House, the Senate has already locked in the $1.6 billion Trump sought this year in wall construction funding in a bipartisan vote and it will be included in the stopgap bill.

The House is likely to approve $5 billion for the wall, matching Trump’s top level wish and setting up negotiations with the Senate.

Threats of a shutdown over not getting full funding for the wall by Oct. 1, however, threaten to disrupt the plan agreed to at a recent White House meeting between Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker Paul Ryan, according to a key official.

Should Trump shift and shut the government down, Democrats would likely make demands for their support and that would include funding for their pet projects.

“A shutdown scenario becomes a lot more expensive,” said a congressional negotiator.

To convince the president against a shutdown, officials are pointing to the pledge to push for more border wall funding after the election.

[Tammy8]

I have thought all along the battle over illegal immigration, open borders will be the toughest of all.

[pookie18]

Thanks, GraceG!