President Trump is keeping Senate Republicans in the dark when it comes to what kind of spending bill he’s willing to sign to keep the government open. The deadline for passing a spending bill is this Friday.
The border wall demand
Previously, President Trump demanded at least $5 billion reserved exclusively for constructing the border wall to be included in any new spending appropriation. Trump even took leadership on the issue, declaring that he’d “own” a government shutdown if Congress refused to give in to his spending demand. (RELATED: Trump Confirms: He’s ‘Proud to Shut Down the Government for Border Security’.)
TRUMP to SCHUMER: “I am proud to shut down the government for border security, chuck. People in this country don’t want criminals and people that have lots of problems and drugs pouring into our country” pic.twitter.com/E8CRW9k7pe
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) December 11, 2018
Yesterday, the President was considering signing yet another short-term spending deal, kicking the can down the road to January, and conceding his demand for border-wall funding. (RELATED: Trump Considers Delaying Border Wall Fight Until January.) There’s one huge problem with this plan: Democrats are set to take over the House in January. The chances that Nancy Pelosi will have her caucus pass a spending bill to fund the wall are slim to nil.
No deal to keep the government open
Trump must have realized this, or his policy team is working out some other plan, because the White House isn’t giving any signal to Congress on what it’s looking for. This lack of direction is occurring just as time is running out. Politico reports:
Senate Republicans are searching for a way out of the impending partial government shutdown. But they are waiting for President Donald Trump to weigh in before making a move, and he appears to be in no rush to help them out.
But as of Monday night, McConnell and Senate Republicans don’t have any plan. What Trump’s intentions are as to a potential shutdown apparently are as opaque to them as they are to anyone else. Senior Republicans suggested the shutdown deadline may have to come closer before either side is willing to make a deal.
Trump keeps GOP in suspense over shutdown https://t.co/49vP24oF26
— POLITICO (@politico) December 18, 2018
Chances of a border wall deal are low
To get the border wall funding he wants, President Trump needs 60 votes in the Senate. That means courting Democrat votes, given that Republicans currently hold 51 seats in the chamber.
It’s a given that Democrats won’t budge on this issue. Republican Senator John Thune believes the White House and the Democrats are still hashing out a deal, according to the Politico report.
It’s nigh impossible that Senate Democrats will give in and help fund Trump’s wall. And if the President stays strong on his promise to shutter the government without his wall funding, we’re going to see a slew of government employees be temporarily out of work come Christmas.
So, I guess it’s an early Christmas gift for taxpayers!
