Posted on 12/20/2018 5:27:50 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) says a House-passed spending bill providing $5.7 billion for a border wall is dead-on-arrival in the Senate, signaling raising odds of a partial government shutdown.
“The bill that’s on the floor of the House, everyone knows, will not pass the Senate,” Schumer said moments before the House voted in support on the measure.
He accused Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) of “cynically” putting the bill on the House floor “knowing it can’t pass the Senate.”
“Everyone knows it can’t pass the Senate. It’s a cynical attempt to just hurt innocent people and do just what President Trump wants even though they probably know it’s bad for the country,” Schumer said.
The Senate is scheduled to convene at noon on Friday to consider the House legislation.
He said that once the Senate defeats the House-passed measure on Friday, House Republican leaders should immediately schedule a vote on a clean temporary funding measure, without border wall funding, that passed the upper chamber without opposition on Friday.
“Leader Pelosi and I and probably Sen. McConnell would hope that the House would then consider passing the bipartisan, unanimously-passed bill [sent down by] Senate," Schumer said, referring to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
“Whether they’ll do that or not, your guess is as good as mine,” he added.
Asked about the prospect of Congress overturning a Trump veto of a clean short-term funding measure with money for the border wall, Schumer said that question should be directed to Republican leaders.
Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) have also offered two alternatives they say can pass both chambers and avoid a partial shutdown: a year-long stopgap spending measure funding the Department of Homeland Security or a year-long stopgap that would fund departments and agencies covered by the seven unfinished appropriations bills.
Both proposals would keep funding for border fencing at the same level as Congress appropriated for 2018: $1.3 billion.
“It is a shame that this president, who is plunging the nation into chaos, is throwing another temper tantrum and is going to hurt lots of innocent people,” Schumer said, insisting that Democrats will not budge on border-wall funding.
Schumer slammed Trump for flip-flopping on his intention to sign a clean stopgap measure, without border wall funding, that would keep government agencies funded into the new year.
“Unfortunately President Trump was attacked this morning and last night by the hard right and, fearful, he backed off his commitment to sign this bill. Republican leaders told us yesterday that he was ready to sign the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate unanimously,” he said.
He also accused Trump of plunging the country into chaos amidst a turbulent week in politics and in the financial markets.
“Today’s events have made one thing clear: President Trump is plunging the country into chaos,” he said, pointing to the looming shutdown, a precipitous drop in the stock markets, and the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
Last time I checked we still hold the Senate, Chuck.
“The Hill” ... of course.
Trump picked a good number: 5 Bil. People see it as a small expenditure. .13% of the budget.
Not as something worth “shutting the government down” over saving.
Trump will win this- even against the RINOs.
The house amended the originals bill. So technically, it’s like a new bill. The senate votes on the new bill. If they oppose then there is a conference committee.
“Equally on Mitch too.”
I don’t think so.
So, how many trespassers are staying with chuckee and cuzzin’ amy?
The President should have an adress in the Oval office with the parents of Americans killed by illegals, killed by the drug cartels. 5 billion dollars out of a 4 trillion dollar budget is a small price to pay to protect the American people.
I need to publicly apologize for doubting Trump over the last few days. Could be my best Christmas ever !!!
good luck. The repubs include flake and a few other never trumpers.
Thanks for the clarification.
XLNT
This will be known as the “Schumer Government Shutdown Bill”!!!
That’s good Chuck, the whole world gets to see you explain why you have no problem handing Mexico and Central America a $10 billion Christmas present but you can’t agree to give half that for American border security.
Guess we always knew that aboutcha anyway, huh?
Democrats will not change that rule. They got burned last time they changed the rules. Also while Trump is President it would be a waste for them to do that.
Maybe if the rats controlled the house, senate and president then they might do it if there aren’t enough liberal republicans to go along with them.
You could tell Mitch was furious when POTUS introduced him at the signing of the farm bill.
Schumer Shutdown!!
Border security AND additional disaster relief funds.
Nancy insisted it wouldn’t pass the House.
As long as the Media and Democrats had the shutdown weapon, the Republicans could never win.
Shouldn’t all the House Members just leave and go home for the Holiday, We did our Job Chucky, it’s on you now.
OK Schumer, bring it !
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