Democrats going nuclear to rein in Trump's arms buildup

The Politico ^ | November 24, 2018 | Bryan Bender

[2ndDivisionVet]

Control of the House will give them 'the power of no — the ability to block programs, cut funding, withhold agreement.'

Democrats preparing to take over the House are aiming to roll back what they see as President Donald Trump's overly aggressive nuclear strategy.

Their goals include eliminating money for Trump’s planned expansion of the U.S. atomic arsenal, including a new long-range ballistic missile and development of a smaller, battlefield nuclear bomb that critics say is more likely than a traditional nuke to be used in combat.

They also want to stymie the administration's efforts to unravel arms control pacts with Russia. And they even aim to dilute Trump's sole authority to order the use of nuclear arms, following the president’s threats to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea and other loose talk about doomsday weapons.

The incoming House majority will have lots of leverage, even with control of only one chamber in the Capitol, veterans of nuclear policy say. They point to precedents in which a Democratic-controlled House cut funding for Ronald Reagan’s MX nuclear missile and a Democratic-led Congress canceled the development of a new atomic warhead under George W. Bush.

"They can block funding for weapon systems," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington. "The Democrats’ ascendancy will prove a much-needed check on the Trump administration's nuclear weapons policy and approaches."(continued)

[familyop]

"Easy fix is shut down the government and go on continuing resolution for next two years. That way the current budget (big) is kept at current spending levels."

Well said.

[hanamizu]

Spending bills originate in the House, but doesn’t the senate have a role in the process?

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Of course the Senate has a role. But if things don’t pass in the House, they simply don’t get done. That said, the Dems aren’t really used to a President who is ready, willing, and able to call them out on it. I have no idea how this will all play out, but if the House cuts military spending, President Trump will respond. The House will pass one spending bill, the Senate another and then it will go to conference committee. What happens then is anybody’s guess. But Trump will fight back.

[onona]

Easy fix is shut down the government and go on continuing resolution for next two years.

From your lips to God's ears. Congress could go on a permanent vacation for all I care. We've got enough laws.

[goldstategop]

I thought they hated Russia? You mean if was a con all along? Color me shocked!

[2ndDivisionVet]

How are things back in 1974?

[Still Thinking]

These days they could probably find some azzhat judge that would say POTUS can’t veto stuff. Course, if it were Ebola, then EO is the law of the land.

[Thebaddog]

My hunch is that the crazies will send bill after bill that defund the military and push carbon free bills. A showdown will start in the Conference committees obviously, but President Trump is possibly going to break them with major campaign events all over the country. IMO.