Trump threatens to veto spending bill, raises possibility of government shutdown

WASHINGTON — There may a government shutdown after all, as President Trump threatened  to veto a spending bill over immigration.

In a surprise tweet Friday morning, Trump cited a lack of funding for a proposed wall along the U,S,-Mexico border, as well as the failure to address a program for children whose parents brought them into the country illegally.

“I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded,” Trump tweeted.

The tweet no doubt surprised Republican congressional leaders, who thought they had secured Trump’s approval earlier this week. 

I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2018

More: Senate passes sweeping $1.3 trillion spending bill, sending it to Trump’s desk

With neither House or Senate in session today, the response from members of Congress took the form of a cascade of tweets.

One of the first to respond. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., encouraged Trump to veto the bill.

“I am just down the street and will bring you a pen,” Corker said. “The spending levels without any offsets are grotesque, throwing all of our children under the bus. Totally irresponsible.”

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, joined Corker’s call for Trump to veto the bill.

 

 

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the assistant majority leader, offered his own criticism of Democrats but added that the omnibus spending bill contained many positives.

 

Less than 24 hours before Trump’s tweet, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said the president would sign the bill, despite some misgivings.

It’s unclear whether Congress could even make changes at this point before midnight, when the current government spending plan expires. That would trigger a shutdown.

Funding for the border wall has been a major source of contention between Trump and Democrats who don’t think it is necessary. As has the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which would shield the children of undocumented immigrants from deportation.

 

Article source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~/534456624/0/usatodaycomwashington-topstories~Trump-threatens-to-veto-spending-bill-raises-possibility-of-government-shutdown/