Early this week, President Trump informed leaders of House Republicans that the Congress must include the $5 billion needed for a Southern border wall by the end of the year’s bill. The border wall is one of Trump’s most significant campaign promises. There could be a fight on this that might cause a partial shutdown of the government.
The spending package is expected to have seven bills, and there are less than ten days to sort out the details of the spending package. Republican leaders made known Trump’s decision not to back down, and they said they would try to make their Democrat opposition see reason with them.
Some Republicans feel that the Democrats want to shut down the government just because they are not ready to keep America free from illegal immigrants. The Democrats have responded by saying that they are not interested in a government shutdown. They said that they are all for improving security in the border and reinforcing fences, but they are against the wall.
The Republican chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Richard C. Shelby raised the idea of providing the money needed for the wall but splitting the total amount needed over two years.
But, minority leader Senator Chuck Schumer of New York said that the Democrats would stick by the deal that they negotiated with Republicans early this year to spend $1.6 billion on border security. He said that Trump would bear the responsibility for any shutdown.
As the Republicans face stiff opposition from the Democrats who they need votes from, senior Senate and House officials have resigned to the possibility that there might be a partial government shutdown from December 7 if they could not gain bipartisan support for the money needed.
The ongoing talks have been further complicated by the illegal immigrants on the border. The migrants tried to evade a blockade and run across the border, but border patrol agents shot tear gas on them and forced them to retreat.
This has hardened the positions of both the Democrats and the Republicans. The Democrats are angered by the use of force by the border patrol while the Republicans have in turn argued that a wall was necessary to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future.
Senator John Cornyn of Texas who is the majority whip has argued that Democrats have come with a lot of pushback, but they have no answer as to what should be done about the illegal immigrants breaking through barriers and trying to force their way into the country.
Some Republican senators might be angling for a more neutral perspective and looking for a way to settle things. But Trump has been pushing for a shutdown over the wall for more than one year. He has claimed that a total shutdown might be required to bring Congress to its knees over the issue. He also told reporters that the time could be ripe for a shutdown.
