Democrats have zero money for President Donald Trump's border wall in their opening offer to avert another government shutdown despite his threat they are 'wasting their time' if they won't fund his barrier.
'If you're asking if there's any money for a border wall there is none,' Democratic Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard told reporters after the first meeting of House and Senate negotiators ended on Wednesday.
The 17-member bipartisan, bicameral panel held their first meeting to find a border security compromise under dueling threats: 1) a ticking clock that only gives them until Feb. 15 to come up with a plan that the president will sign to avoid another shutdown; and 2) a warning from Trump that if lawmakers are 'not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!'
Chairwoman Nita Lowey (center) and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (right) made it clear there was no funding for President Trump's border wall in their opening offer
The 17-member bipartisan, bicameral panel held their first meeting to find a border security compromise
And House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey appeared to brush aside Trump's threat.
'I raised three children and now I have eight grand children and I think it's best way of dealing with them is with facts and figures instead of threats,' she said when asked about the president's demand.
Lowey did offer a ray of hope when it comes to compromise.
'Everything is on the table,' she said. 'Today was a starting point.'
She also said the lawmakers charged with coming up with a hail mary pass over the next 16 days may take a trip to the border as part of their work.
'We've been talking about maybe taking a trip to the border but there is not much time,' she said.
And while Democrats wouldn't commit to a wall, Lowey conceded more money would likely end up on the table than the $1.3 billion Democrats originally offered for border security.
'We will expand on the $1.6 billion for border security-related programs that House Democrats have already passed in the last few weeks,' she said.
But there was little enthusiasm for the $5.7 billion Trump was demanded for his border wall. Democrats argued money was limited and could be put to other uses.
'Within the limited funding available in the bill, we will be fighting for balanced investments across the Department's mission areas. And we will be pushing for a strong, but smart, border security posture, one that does not rely on costly physical barriers,' Roybal-Allard said.
Republicans on the panel showed their support for some type of border barrier to be used strategically.
Few lawmakers used the word 'wall' but talked about building barriers where it made strategic sense.
'All sides seem to agree that border security is important. That is a good start, but it cannot end there,' said Republican Sen. Richard Shelby in his opening remarks.
'Smart technology alone does not actually stop anyone from crossing into the U.S. illegally,' he noted as part of his argument for a border barrier. 'Our border patrol tells us that they need physical barriers to help them do their job. Not from coast to coast, but strategically placed where traffic is highest.'
He argued strategic barriers are part of a 'comprehensive solution.'
Republican Congressman Chuck Fleischmann did utter the word 'wall' but said he wanted one 'where barriers work.'
The GOP pushed for lawmakers to focus on where they agree and argued portions of a border barrier are something both parties could back.
'People, technology and barrier and we've all voted for all three,' said Republican Sen. John Hoeven.
'If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!
But Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose district sits on the Texas-U.S. border, dismissed the idea a wall is effective.
'Give me $100. I'll buy you a ladder and we'll take care of that wall quickly,' he said.
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby suggested strategically placed border barriers would be a good compromise
President Donald Trump hamstrung Capitol Hill negotiators as they began the first round of talks with a bipartisan panel of lawmakers to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year
Trump said that the legislators 'are wasting their time' if their solution doesn't include a border wall. He allowed that they could refer to it alternatively as a physical barrier
Before lawmakers met Wednesday afternoon, Trump put his demand on the table.
'If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!,' he tweeted Wednesday morning.
The 35-day shutdown, the longest in American history, ended Friday after Trump signed a bill to reopen the government for three weeks, backing down from his demand that Congress give him $5.7 billion for his border wall before federal agencies get back to work.
Polls show people chiefly blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown.
Part of the agreement was the bipartisan panel of House and Senate lawmakers tasked with coming up with a border security plan both parties could support and Trump would sign.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who previously said there was no chance of Trump getting his wall, punted the issue to negotiators.
'I think a conference committee can reach a good result left to its own devices without interference from anybody else. I have confidence in the appropriators,' she told CNN Wednesday morning.
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who pressured Trump last week to end the shutdown, warned the president against triggering another one or declaring a national emergency in order to get his wall.
When asked to describe a border security agreement he'd support, McConnell said: 'I'm for whatever works that would prevent the level of dysfunction we've seen on full display here the last month and also doesn't bring about a view on the president's part that he needs to declare a national emergency.'
Before negotiators met on Wednesday, Shelby was asked what would happen if the lawmakers came up with a plan that Trump would refuse to sign and a veto could be overridden.
'That'd be hard to do. Nothing is impossible,' he said.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders warned Democrats on Monday afternoon that they will 'get virtually nothing' if they put Trump in the position of having to solve the border wall fight by declaring a national emergency.
'If they don't come back with a deal, that means Democrats get virtually nothing. That will make the president, and force him, to have to take executive action that does not give Democrats the things that they want,' Sanders said in her first press briefing of 2019.
She said of an immigration reform framework and spending deal, 'This is a perfect time and the table has been perfectly set by the president in order for a good deal to come together where everybody gets a little something they're looking for.'
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday the president is willing to shut down the government again in three weeks in order to secure the border.
'Yeah I think he actually is. Keep in mind he's willing to do whatever it takes to secure the border. He does take this very seriously,' Mulvaney said Sunday on CBS' 'Face the Nation.'
Mulvaney refused to answer whether or not Trump would take less than the $5.7 billion he demanded as his original price to reopen the government - the amount he needs to build a border wall.
'This is not something where the president's married to a number, he's married to border security,' he said on 'Fox News Sunday.'
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/31/dems-offer-nothing-for-trumps-wall-in-talks-on-averting-another-shutdown-despite-president-warning/
Main photo article Democrats have zero money for President Donald Trump‘s border wall in their opening offer to avert another government shutdown despite his threat they are ‘wasting their time’ if they won’t fund his barrier.
‘If you’re asking if there’s any money for a ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
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Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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