Congress reaches deal to keep government open through September

Chicago Tribune ^ | April 30 2017 | Andrew Taylor, Associated Press

[iowamark]

Congressional Republicans and Democrats forged a hard-won agreement Sunday night on a huge $1 trillion-plus spending bill that would fund the day-to-day operations of virtually every federal agency through September, denying President Donald Trump funding for a border wall and rejecting his cuts to popular domestic programs.

Aides to lawmakers involved in the talks announced the agreement after weeks of negotiations. It's expected to be made public Sunday night.

The catchall spending bill would be the first major piece of bipartisan legislation to advance during Trump's short tenure in the White House. While losing on the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump won a $15 billion down payment on his request to strengthen the military.

The measure funds the remainder of the 2017 budget year, rejecting cuts to popular domestic programs targeted by Trump...

The measure is assured of winning bipartisan support in votes this week; the House and Senate have until midnight Friday to pass the measure to avert a government shutdown. It's unclear how much support the measure will receive from GOP conservatives and how warmly it will be received by the White House...

Democratic votes will be needed to pass the measure even though Republicans control both the White House and Congress. The minority party has been actively involved in the talks, which appear headed to produce a lowest common denominator measure that won't look too much different than the deal that could have been struck on President Barack Obama's watch last year.

The measure also taps $68 million to reimburse New York City and other local governments for costs involved in protecting Trump Tower and other properties, a priority of lawmakers such as Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

[Varsity Flight]

More important, the previous Undocumented signed “exempt” orders to numerous entities when forced Body Mortgages first became enacted, yet we see no signs of Trump willing to currently sign for, or even bring up this issue of Exempting everyone right now, until the issue is fully dealt with.

[Varsity Flight]

More important, the previous Undocumented signed “exempt” orders to numerous entities when forced Body Mortgages first became enacted, yet we see no signs of Trump willing to currently sign for, or even bring up this issue of Exempting everyone right now, until the issue is fully dealt with.

.....And remember the quote: “I won’t let you down.”

[exDemMom]

If they would do what they were elected to do, they wouldn’t have negative reactions in their home districts.

Politicians believe that they have a right to the power and perks of office. They’ve forgotten what they are supposed to do, which is to do the business of the people. Until they start focusing on the people’s business, they deserve the people’s criticism.

[DoughtyOne]

I’m enthused about what he has accomplished so far.

I’ve spent 50 years watching people who profess to be Conservative lament that Planned Parenthood hasn’t been defunded.

Trump signed a bill that allows states to withhold funds from P.P. and there’s hardly a peep about it.

In addition, folks still come to the forum and posts about Trump’s failures, never listing the things he has accomplished.

It’s almost as if they are thrilled to have the opinion he’s a failure. At least that’s what it looks like.

Trump is doing fine. If he keeps it up, he’ll have been the best president in my lifetime.