Posted on 03/24/2018 3:26:05 PM PDT by zencycler
President Donald Trump briefly threatened to veto a giant spending bill on Friday and then reluctantly signed it to keep the military funded.
The lack of funding for a border wall with Mexico is likely one of the president’s biggest frustrations. Trump mentioned the wall when he threatened to veto the bill. The $1.3 trillion budget includes just $1.6 billion for wall construction along the southern border, far short of the $25 billion needed to accomplish Trump’s signature campaign promise.
To make matters worse, the spending bill specifically prohibits Trump from building the kind of wall he wants. The president nevertheless celebrated the progress and pointed out that construction can begin immediately.
But Trump also dropped an eyebrow-raising hint that he could take an unprecedented option and build the wall using the enormous military budget.
“I want to address the situation on border security, which I call national defense,” Trump said. “I call it stopping drugs from pouring across our border. And I call it illegal immigration. It’s all of those things. But national defense is a very important two words. Because by having a strong border system, including a wall, we are in a position, militarily, that is very advantageous.”
For the first time, Trump underlined the significance of the barrier as a military structure and a matter of national defense. Up to now, the president promoted the wall as a way to curtail illegal immigration and stop the deadly flood of illicit drugs. The introduction of the wall’s military function is significant, especially in terms of funding it.
Roughly half of the spending bill is dedicated to the military for a total of over $654 billion allotted to the Pentagon’s base budget and overseas counterinsurgency operations. That’s enough to build the wall 26 times.
(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...
Absolutely boggles my mind, alway has, how anyone cannot consider our southern border situation a threat to national security.
I like that!!
I read that he was going to use the Army Corps of Engineers.
Strategic placement for now. Environmental laws waived. Easement purchases started years ago. Execute what you can.
The problem is whether or not it is a timed appropriation or no year money. It matters for the period of availability for obligation.
Except no generic President did.
Our national guard spends their summer retreat driving around in big circles Have them drive to destinations pick up the materials and deliver them. Make their time count for something productive.
He was up here in NH two days ago for a GOP fundraiser, and calling in on local talk radio shows extolling all the wonders of the Bill Trump just signed.
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That’s sickening. How stupid do they think we are? And these are supposed to be OUR guys?
Hey.... we’re making it rain, aren’t we? our job!
Boooom! Good job!
Look up the Roosevelt Reservation (1917) Easement all along the southern border was established then. No further actions needed. Government owns right of way
You betcha !
Brilliant!!!
My thinking exactly. From my understanding, this "Omnibus Spending Bill" is not a budget, but a stop-gap funding bill. As such, the money for the spending items we are hearing about (including the funding for Planned Parenthood) do not have to used for that purpose--they are merely suggestions that the President can either take or leave. We all know how President Obama ruled by Executive Order-- creating and funding programs that weren't part of the budget. He also simply chose to not enforce laws that were on the books-- like the Defense of Marriage Act. Well, President Trump, now that he's been given funding can operate in that manner too.
For example, he can simply defund PP (for whatever reason or no reason) and use the money elsewhere. He's shown himself to be a shrewd dealer and has been strong on the Right to Life up to this point. And, significantly, I haven't heard much complaining from any leaders of the major pro-life groups about this that you'd expect if they felt massively betrayed by Trump. whom they have kept close ties with. Why is that? Do they know something we don't know? Let's wait and see. This isn't finished yet....
Thank you for that. I do know some land owners were disputing that.
Us it as a training school for future construction jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. And infrastructure both accomplished.
They have been on the job since last July
Check out this article
Never Trumpers have been on a continuous quest for the Trump fail. They are absolutely convinced signing this bill was a total fail. Trump’s rope-a-dope has them convinced. Wait and see. Trump haters will be gasping for air in short order.
Volunteers augment an appropriation in violation of the law. Ursurps Congress’ responsibility to determine the amount of the allowed appropriation.
It’s evidently NOT a BILL!
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