Posted on 02/08/2019 8:35:56 AM PST by GIdget2004
House and Senate negotiators are closing in on a possible border security agreement that would fund new technology, additional border patrol agents, and likely some kind of fencing in certain areas along the southern border.
There’s no mention of a wall in the deal, per orders of Democratic leaders who vehemently oppose it.
But President Trump seems to be more flexible to whatever the deal entails, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., divulged to lawmakers in a private lunch Thursday.
“I gave a report on meeting with the president and I thought things were on the positive trajectory as far as maybe concluding the funding,” Shelby said. “But we are not there yet.”
Shelby said Thursday afternoon that the next 72 hours would be critical if Democrats and Republicans are to reach a long-sought deal on border security that would also allow passage of seven spending bills and ensure full government funding by a Feb. 15 deadline.
“We’ve got serious negotiations going on,” Shelby said.
The main sticking point is how much money to provide for border barriers and what those barriers will look like.
Democrats appear willing to agree to funding for some new fencing in targeted areas as well as upgrades to existing barriers, they told the Washington Examiner.
The deal is likely to cover far fewer miles than Trump wants, however, and the barriers will be far less robust than the steel slat wall Trump favors.
Shelby would not disclose whether Trump would agree to less than the $5.7 billion he has requested for border barriers, or a wall, as he calls it. But he hinted Trump may be willing to make a deal on price.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
“Smart Wall”. Chalk that up as a loss.
Trump is caving all over the place on immigration...depressing as hell.
Time to get back to sewing and no news
Hmmm, get what you can and then go ahead and using existing law (un-allocated DOD funds) to build some of the wall this year, some next might be the resulting strategy.
As usual the dog and pony show will entertain us until the very last minute.
All by design.
If President Trump gets say, 4 billion for the kind of fencing he requires, this will be a victory. Any less, and it will be a defeat.
Add to that more ‘legal’ immigrants(democrat voters) and Mueller’s impeachment report and his 2020 prospects will be dim. America’s, too.
Let’s pray so
Eff that, Cruzboy NeverTrumper.
If this wall is built in a manner that does not meet the design criteria President Trump stated they would meet then why accept it.
We need a wall that’s 30 feet tall that No alian is going to successfully climb over or go through.
It also should be strong enough to withstand any concerted attacks by alians who will do anything to get into this country.
The President needs to stay the course.If need be to his own way.
5 billion, let the experts design them.
I smell a war coming.
Bingo. Take what they give you, so long as it doesn't contain an enforceable prohibition against building a Wall.
Even better, there are some who argue he has the clear authority to build a Wall without a declaration. In any event, he better have a robust and effective construction program or he will be booed out of office by 70% of the voters.
So then we are NOT close to a deal.
Trump has reversed course here .
Keep up on current events like the SOTU address .
Or damn' high concrete! If he lets the Democrats call it a "fence" then there'll never be anything larger than a 6' high chainlink fence across the border and even that'll be protested by the Dem's!
BUILD THE WALL AND MAKE IT TALL!!
If Trump goes this route and accepts this there will be no wall to speak of...The devil is in the details...
If he declares an emergency, a resistance judge will block it before they even begin and will be held up in the courts until around his reelection. If he gets some money appropriated for fencing for a wall, he can get started building right now. If he runs out of money, he can come back to Congress for more or declare a national emergency then. What am I missing?
The rumors abound - and the concern trolls break out their worry beads......
sadly I agree..
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