On Day 1 in power, House Democrats challenge Trump on shutdown

By Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan

 

U.S. Capitol is seen on the first day of a partial federal government shutdown in Washington, U.S., December 22, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/Files

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats wasted no time flexing their new power in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday as they manoeuvred to pass legislation backed by new Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would end a 13-day partial government shutdown while ignoring President Donald Trump's demand for $5 billion for a border wall.

 

Thursday marked the first day of divided government in Washington since Trump took office in January 2017, as Democrats took control in the House from his fellow Republicans, who remain in charge of the Senate.

 

The 2019-2020 Congress convened with roughly a quarter of the federal government closed, affecting 800,000 employees, in a shutdown triggered by Trump's demand last month for the money for a U.S.-Mexican border wall - opposed by Democrats - as part of any legislation funding government agencies.

 

The House formally picked veteran Democratic lawmaker Pelosi as its speaker, elevating the liberal from San Francisco for her second stint in one of Washington's most powerful jobs. She is the only woman ever to serve as speaker and will preside over the most diverse U.S. House in history, including a record number of women and Latinos.

 

The two-part Democratic package includes a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security at current levels through Feb. 8, providing $1.3 billion for border fencing and $300 million for other border security items including technology and cameras.

 

The second part would fund the other federal agencies that are now unfunded including the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Commerce and Justice, through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

 

The White House on Thursday issued a veto threat against both parts of the Democratic legislation.

 

But that did not deter House Democrats.

 

In their first legislative victory since taking power earlier in the day, the two bills to reopen the government cleared an important procedural hurdle as the House approved the rules for debating the two measures. That cleared the way for a vote expected later in the evening on passage.

 

As speaker, Pelosi now is situated to lead Democratic opposition to Trump's agenda and carry out investigations of his administration following two years during which congressional Republicans largely acquiesced to the president.

 

Trump later on Thursday made an unannounced appearance in the White House briefing room to make the case for the border wall, accompanied by members of a union that represents border patrol agents that endorsed him for president in 2016. He congratulated Pelosi on her selection as speaker and said: "Hopefully we're going to work together."

 

"The wall - you can call it a barrier, you can call it whatever you want - but essentially we need protection in our country," Trump told reporters, without taking questions.

 

'THE WRONG FOOT'

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signalled that the Democratic legislation had no future in the Senate, calling it "political theatre, not productive lawmaking."

 

"Let's not waste the time," he said on the Senate floor. "Let's not get off on the wrong foot with House Democrats using their platform to produce political statements rather than serious solutions."

 

McConnell said the Senate would not take up any proposal that did not have a real chance of getting Trump's signature.

 

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer urged McConnell to allow the Democratic legislation to come to a vote in the chamber and said there was no reason to keep parts of the government unrelated to the border security issue shut down because of the wall standoff.

 

"If Leader McConnell tonight would put the bill that's passing the House on the floor, it would pass," Schumer said, noting that the measures previously had been backed by Senate Republicans.

 

Congressional leaders from both parties held unproductive talks with Trump at the White House on Wednesday and are to return for another round on Friday, a sign the shutdown is likely to continue at least for the rest of the week.

 

After the November congressional elections, Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate and Democrats have a 235-199 margin in the House with one seat undecided.

 

Trump made the wall - a project estimated to cost about $23 billion - a key campaign promise in 2016, saying Mexico would pay for it and arguing it is needed to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Democrats have called the wall immoral, ineffective and medieval.

 

"No, no. Nothing for the wall," Pelosi said in an interview aired on Thursday on NBC's "Today" show.

 

Credit rating agency Moody's said the shutdown would cause minimal U.S. economic and credit market disruption but there could be a more severe impact on financial markets and the broad economy if the closure is protracted.

 

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Ginger Gibson and Amanda Becker; Additional reporting by Lisa Lambert, Susan Cornwell and Susan Heavey; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-04

You have to watch the news to notice the  fact the government is shut down. That's the embarrassing thing about it.

Pelosi is appalling it's all just an ego battle and America will suffer.

6 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Pelosi is appalling it's all just an ego battle and America will suffer.

She’s appalling news for Trump, I’ll grant you that.

9 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

You have to watch the news to notice the  fact the government is shut down. That's the embarrassing thing about it.

Well yes, because many government workers are reporting for work and doing their jobs despite not getting paid.

 

Doh!

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Well yes, because many government workers are reporting for work and doing their jobs despite not getting paid.

 

Doh!

 

One sad  bit of news is I heard they closed the national zoo and finally shut the panda cam off. 

A troll post has been removed. 

I’m not a huge fan of Pelosi, but the fact that she just makes Donnie boy and his merry band of triggered GOP misogynists blow a gasket anytime she appears, does compensate. 

This is exactly what they have to do, come with reasonable legislation, acceptable to many republicans as well. If no vote in the senate the blame is shared between trump and republicans, if agreed on in the senate it will remain with Trump alone.

Good luck to the Dems.

The Senate isn't even considering passing any resolution unless there is money for the Wall. 

30 minutes ago, samran said:

I’m not a huge fan of Pelosi, but the fact that she just makes Donnie boy and his merry band of triggered GOP misogynists blow a gasket anytime she appears, does compensate. 

Yeah, I don't like her either, but do love that someone is finally opposing him on stupid policy moves, and she is a polished, clever old bird.  CNN had a complete analysis today of prior shutdowns and that they never end in a negotiated settlement. It's always one side that caves. Nobody knows which side will cave this time, but she firmly states no money for a wall, so we will see.

13 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Good luck to the Dems.

The Senate isn't even considering passing any resolution unless there is money for the Wall. 

So tell me why they didn’t consider a resolution in the past 2 years given the GOP had a majority in both houses? 

30 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Good luck to the Dems.

The Senate isn't even considering passing any resolution unless there is money for the Wall. 

The bill that the Dems are presenting right now is the same bill the Senate already approved.

26 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

Nobody knows which side will cave this time, but she firmly states no money for a wall, so we will see.

At the time of this post, two Republicans have already jumped ship to side with the Democrats and the Democrats know they are coming from the position of strength.

 

34 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Good luck to the Dems.

The Senate isn't even considering passing any resolution unless there is money for the Wall. 

There is money for the wall, you just have to go to Mexico to get it. 

   Mexico's ex president Vicente Fox is waiting to let you have it.

 

35 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

Yeah, I don't like her either, but do love that someone is finally opposing him on stupid policy moves, and she is a polished, clever old bird.  CNN had a complete analysis today of prior shutdowns and that they never end in a negotiated settlement. It's always one side that caves. Nobody knows which side will cave this time, but she firmly states no money for a wall, so we will see.

 

Well considering Lindsey Graham just told Trump if he doesn't get the wall he is finished I can't see Trump being the one to cave. Trump has nothing to lose right now.

Just now, Cryingdick said:

 

Well considering Lindsey Graham just told Trump if he doesn't get the wall he is finished I can't see Trump being the one to cave. Trump has nothing to lose right now.

Perhaps you are right. Trump only cares about this 38% base, and cares nothing about anyone else. That base allowed him to be elected, and we will see how strong that base is now that everything is starting to unravel.

13 minutes ago, sirineou said:

 

There is money for the wall, you just have to go to Mexico to get it. 

   Mexico's ex president Vicente Fox is waiting to let you have it.

 

Donnie did promise a wall - paid for by Mexico.

 

If that was his promise, then i don’t understand why Pelosi needs to give him a cent. 

 

You go Nancy girl give Donald the drubbing he so richly deserves stick to your guns hopefully we can get those gov.imployees paid ASAP!

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

This is exactly what they have to do, come with reasonable legislation, acceptable to many republicans as well. If no vote in the senate the blame is shared between trump and republicans, if agreed on in the senate it will remain with Trump alone.

Like the Bi-Partisan Government funding bill Trump already rejected.

All this winning!

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Like the Bi-Partisan Government funding bill Trump already rejected.

 

It didn't make it to the senate. 

3 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Pelosi is appalling it's all just an ego battle and America will suffer.

Yeah...you are so cute!

Because there nothing else happening and no other person, I could think of, that is appalling and makes 'Murica suffer!

Or is there?

Let me think....long and hard....but also give me some time to think...

A wall is a Physical Barrier, nothing else- it does NOT keep people out (or in) in itself. Many moons ago I was involved in Methods of Entry- ie how to breach different types of obstacles involving walls, fences, buildings etc. The purposes of walls, fences, etc is to provide a delay for a reaction force to turn up, in conjunction with other defences such as lights and alarms. One of the most effective barriers I ever came across (and the cheapest) was an extremely thorny hedge which all but defeated the most devious minds presented with it. 

 

With a wall one can go over it, under it or through it if not in seconds in a matter of minutes. To spend USD 5bn on something that is nothing more than a line in the sand (and we know what the Donald thinks about sand at the moment- its death!) is completely pointless. The 5bn  could be far better spent addressing other aspects of the Immigration issue but that doesn't fit the Donald's agenda.

 

Fortunately some are prepared to fight his ego. The shutdown is just another indication of his childish petulance when he doesn't get his own way.

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Well considering Lindsey Graham just told Trump if he doesn't get the wall he is finished I can't see Trump being the one to cave. Trump has nothing to lose right now.

Graham flip flops more than a flip flop in a hurricane- He is an opportunist Snake Oil salesman who I wouldn't trust to open the refrigerator

The fun is just beginning. Trump is already hating his job, and probably regretting the moment he decided to run for office. Now, he will have to contend with some real pushback, as even the GOP has been emboldened by his congressional slaughter. His days of ultimate authority are behind him. He is a lame duck, and will not run for a second term, and even if he does, someone as weak as Justin Bieber would beat him. Just wait. Those 17 federal and state investigations are going to yield alot of felonious guilt, on the part of Trump. 

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The fun is just beginning. Trump is already hating his job, and probably regretting the moment he decided to run for office. Now, he will have to contend with some real pushback, as even the GOP has been emboldened by his congressional slaughter. His days of ultimate authority are behind him. He is a lame duck, and will not run for a second term, and even if he does, someone as weak as Justin Bieber would beat him. Just wait. Those 17 federal and state investigations are going to yield a lot of felonious guilt, on the part of Trump. 

Unsure why opposition or indeed Republicans, need to wait for the likes of Muller. Only requires to read or hear trump's words from his latest Cabinet Meeting - the leader of the idiocracy completely exposed as unable to represent the Office of the President of the USA.

I wish all those against a wall would suggest how the border patrol is supposed to stop people from crossing the border with just technology and a few feet on the ground?  If one Democratic representative in Congress could explain a way of stopping people from crossing illegally, I would be happy to listen.  

21 minutes ago, Trouble said:

I wish all those against a wall would suggest how the border patrol is supposed to stop people from crossing the border with just technology and a few feet on the ground?  If one Democratic representative in Congress could explain a way of stopping people from crossing illegally, I would be happy to listen.  

Your man in the oval office said yesterday when asked what about using modern technology like drones:  "I know more about drones than anybody," so I guess that closes off that method of border security. Similarly, there are many, many technologically sophisticated plan that have been discussed at length by others, but as usual, one man, Donald Trump has successfully convinced you and other supporters that really, that is only one expert on all things, and only an old school wall works:  Donald Trump, the guy who never reads.

 

The article below, published today, contains a list of all the many things Trump has assured you that he is THE FOREMOST Authority on:

 

Quote

Borders. Foremost authority: Donald Trump.

That according to former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio who, Trump claimed in July 2016, once gave him that praise.

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/02/foremost-experts-various-topics-according-trump-most-whom-are-trump/?utm_term=.5fb6b4d437cd

54 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The fun is just beginning. Trump is already hating his job, and probably regretting the moment he decided to run for office. Now, he will have to contend with some real pushback, as even the GOP has been emboldened by his congressional slaughter. His days of ultimate authority are behind him. He is a lame duck, and will not run for a second term, and even if he does, someone as weak as Justin Bieber would beat him. Just wait. Those 17 federal and state investigations are going to yield alot of felonious guilt, on the part of Trump. 

Unfortunately (for the Republicans) he will run for a second term, it is his ego, when advisers tell him he has not a chance in hell of reelection he will not believe them, and when he loses he will not stand down gracefully.

Well as we go into day two lets hope Nancy continues to squeeze his balls, very tight. ????