Dems winning fight over wall

[corbe]

Dems winning fight over wall

 By Rafael Bernal and Mike Lillis - 04/09/17 10:00 AM EDT

Democrats are winning the war over the wall.

Despite President Trump’s request for more than $1 billion to fund the Mexican border wall this year, GOP leaders are expected to exclude the money in the spending bill being prepared to keep the government open beyond April 28.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says the choice is pragmatic and the money will come later.

But the issue has become a political thorn in the side of GOP leaders who are facing pushback from Republicans voicing concerns over the diplomatic fallout, the disruption to local communities and the enormous cost of the project, estimated to be anywhere from $22 billion to $40 billion.
With Democrats united against new wall funding, it’s unlikely the Republicans have the votes to get it through and prevent a government shutdown.

Among the loudest GOP skeptics are those representing border districts. Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), for instance, hail from districts that span a combined 880 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. They’re pressing the administration to justify the huge costs.

“We recognize the need for robust border security and infrastructure to ensure public safety and increase cross border commerce,” the lawmakers wrote recently to top administration officials. “We also have an obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Grover Norquist, a conservative anti-tax crusader who has supported comprehensive immigration reform, told The Hill that payment for the wall has not been an issue in his discussions with allies on Capitol Hill.

And some Republicans are concerned that deteriorating relations with Mexico may be too high a price to pay for the wall.

In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) expressed concern to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly about a growing resentment in Mexico over the administration's border policies.

“There is a lot of anti-American sentiment in Mexico. If the election were tomorrow in Mexico, you'd probably have a left-wing, anti-American president in Mexico. That can't be good for America,” McCain said.

“It would not be good for America, or for Mexico,” Kelly conceded.

The thinly veiled reference to Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who tops most polls in the lead-up to Mexico’s upcoming 2018 presidential election, raised eyebrows in Mexico.

Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Luis Videgaray told Kelly in Washington Thursday that Mexico “expects the United States to respect the Mexican electoral process.”

Videgaray added that, although Mexico considers the wall an “unfriendly gesture,” it is “not part of a bilateral discussion and it shouldn’t be.”

Democrats have latched on to Mexico's consistent denial that the country will pay for a border wall — various officials and former officials have panned the notion since Trump first brought it up during the campaign — to take swings at the president.

“It's anywhere between $26 billion and $40 billion to build it, you can't drive on it, you can't use it for anything, it doesn't do anything to drive economic growth and jobs in America beyond the building of a wall itself, and it probably wouldn't be built using union jobs to begin with,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

In its budget request, the White House had sought $1.4 billion in 2017 funds for the wall. But hoping to prevent a government shutdown, Ryan has suggested the Republicans will largely delay the wall funding debate until September, when Congress takes up spending bills looking ahead to fiscal 2018. 

“The big chunk of money for the wall, really, is ... next fiscal year’s appropriations, because they literally can’t start construction even this quickly,” he told “CBS This Morning” last week.

Democrats are encouraged by those comments, but in the absence of specific legislation they remain leery that some Republicans, particularly those in the White House, will continue to push for wall provisions in the 2017 package.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she’s hopeful the Republicans will punt on the issue, citing recent polls indicating that voters are largely opposed.

“I would hope that they wouldn't try that because … the American people don't even support it,” she told reporters Thursday.

A Pew Research poll released in February found that 67 percent of voters oppose the wall, and only 35 percent support it.

Last month, Pelosi visited the border region in Texas and warned that the wall would damage communities without benefiting public safety.

“It's about commerce. It's about community. It's about family. It's about education. It's about the environment. It's about so many things,” she said. “So to put a wall there is really an insult and really an ineffective insult at that.”

In Texas, where much of the land along the Rio Grande is privately owned, the wall has met resistance from many locals, regardless of party affiliation.

Landowners have long fought the federal government exercising eminent domain to acquire land for border fencing. Plus, the river's natural floodplain would require the wall to be built well north of the border, leaving some land on the Mexican side of the wall.

Land acquisition is less of a concern in other border states, where much of the land is owned by the federal government and, except for a short span on the Colorado River, the border crosses dry land.

Still, past administrations have found a double duty for the wall in some sectors by building border fencing atop levees that protect communities from floods.

In anticipation of potential litigation over border land, Trump's Department of Justice budget request for 2018 included funding for “20 attorneys to pursue Federal efforts to obtain the land and holdings necessary to secure the Southwest border and another 20 attorneys and support staff for immigration litigation assistance.”

But focus is on the Homeland Security budget that provides for physical construction of the wall. And in that debate, the wildcard remains the question of how hard Trump will push fellow Republicans to help him make good on the central pillar of his campaign.

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/latino/327916-dems-winning-fight-over-wall

[libertybele]

"Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says the choice is pragmatic and the money will come later".  When Mr. Speaker??  Would this time frame be, before or after the mid-term elections?  Timing is everything on this project.  He needs to go! Sooner rather than later.

[jmyrlefuller]

The Dems seems to be winning a lot of fights.

Thankfully they lost SCOTUS—which, by no coincidence, did not involve the House—but Obamacare is still law and now this.

Paul Ryan should have been left in his position as a policy wonk. He is not a leader, nor has he ever really been one, and the lack of direction is hurting the conservative agenda.

[geronl]

"Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says the choice is pragmatic and the money will come later".  When Mr. Speaker??  Would this time frame be, before or after the mid-term elections?  Timing is everything on this project.  He needs to go! Sooner rather than later.

They can't make it part of the "stimulus"?

[libertybele]

This is an excerpt from Ryan's speech after President Trump's victory.  Ryan gave a great speech; but obviously it was very hollow.  He continues to lie.

RYAN: I -- "I think after a tough campaign, where people believe that they were -- they were pitching so hard for one side or the other, the time is to heal and to unify. This health care law, Charles, is not a popular law. This health care law is collapsing under its own weight.

And so to your specific question about repealing and replacing Obamacare, this Congress, this House majority, this Senate majority has already demonstrated and proven we're able to pass that legislation and put it on the president's desk. The problem is President Obama vetoed it. Now, we have President Trump coming who is asking us to do this.

So with unified Republican government, we can fix this. We can fix these problems.

Read full speech:

http://time.com/4564832/paul-ryan-speech-donald-trump-election/

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Trump just had to say the wall would be funded by Mexico. He didn't have to, but he did, and his acolytes mindlessly believed it.

[bilo]

The Dems seems to be winning a lot of fights.

Thankfully they lost SCOTUS—which, by no coincidence, did not involve the House—but Obamacare is still law and now this.

Paul Ryan should have been left in his position as a policy wonk. He is not a leader, nor has he ever really been one, and the lack of direction is hurting the conservative agenda.

Where's Pres. Trump been?

The failure to repeal obamacare falls right at his feet. He left it in the hands of Ryan without any clear directions. It may still get worked out, but not because of him. It's the HFC, the conservatives, who have fought the fight against the mad socialist health insurance garbage called obamacare. This war would have been won by now if Pres. Trump had backed the HFC.

[Right_in_Virginia]

This is fantasy.  The Dems will lose this "fight", too.

[Cripplecreek]

Trump just had to say the wall would be funded by Mexico. He didn't have to, but he did, and his acolytes mindlessly believed it.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Among the loudest GOP skeptics are those representing border districts. Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), for instance, hail from districts that span a combined 880 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. They’re pressing the administration to justify the huge costs.

What the hell would those two snowflakes know about the border?

USA USA USA!
#MAGA

[endicom]

This is fantasy.  The Dems will lose this "fight", too.

The purpose of the wall is not to have a wall but to help curtail illegal immigration. The pressure on the Pubs, and susceptible Dems, should be to cut short that migration.

"You won't fund a wall? Okay, what will you do?"

[Chosen Daughter]

Trump just had to say the wall would be funded by Mexico. He didn't have to, but he did, and his acolytes mindlessly believed it.

The people did not get what they voted for.

And this comment from McLame say's it all:

“There is a lot of anti-American sentiment in Mexico. If the election were tomorrow in Mexico, you'd probably have a left-wing, anti-American president in Mexico. That can't be good for America,” McCain said.



Who gives a crap.  Same old story afraid of offending Mexico who BTW is very careful about their own immigration policy.  Americans are sick and tired of supporting illegal immigrants who take our jobs.

Americans could have gotten the same exact thing by voting for Jeb Bush.  Trump complaining about George Bush and Iraq.  Now he is moving in the same direction.  Forgetting his campaign promises to repeal Ocare, lock her up and build the wall.

[Hondo69]

No one will like my approach, but I'll toss it out there anyway.

I'd make the Liberals pay for the wall and here's how I'd state my case.  We gave Obama a trillion dollars for what turned out to be a bait and switch lie - I want my money back.  We gave the Liberals another several trillion dollars for other bait and switch programs - I want my money back.

See how I changed the conversation.  This is not "new" spending we're talking about anymore, the conversation flips to compensating victims of a scam.

[1] Compensating victims is treasured territory staked out by Liberals - turn the tables on them.  No one would argue victims of a scam should not be compensated. 

[2] Using terms like "bait and switch" and "scam" implies illegal activity which also implies prison time for those who get caught for breaking the law.

[3] I specifically used the term "Liberals" instead of Democrats.  Paul Ryan and the majority of the Republican party are snared in the Liberal net right along with Democrats.  They fell all over themselves handing Obama everything he wanted on a silver platter.  You broke it, you fix it.

A favorite trick of Liberals is to wipe out the public's memory as if they were zapped with a mind eraser right out of Men In Black.  The very last thing they ever want to do is be forced to look in the rear view mirror.  Move On Dot Org has made a very nice living using the mind eraser tactic.  Instead let's rehash the crimes and pull out the video evidence to back it all up.

And while CNN flies in talking heads to explain so eloquently, "he had to do it, he had to do it", we'll just let that pot boil for a few weeks before we set the hook.  Here it comes, wait for it - Save The Children.

I want my money back in order to save the children.  It is immoral to saddle our children and grandchildren with mountains of debt they can never repay.  Please explain why it is you hate children.

I'm waiting   

[libertybele]

This is fantasy.  The Dems will lose this "fight", too.

I wish it were fantasy.  It has already been stated by Congress that the budget for the wall is going to have to wait. I've said this before; the mid-terms are next year.  IF the wall isn't funded (and the actual wall was voted on and approved in 2006) before the mid terms, do you really think we're going to retain the majority? The wall is the single issue that launched Trump's campaign. RINO's like Ryan are going to make sure the wall never gets built. The president is only one person.  He has executive power yes, but he needs approval of 535 members of Congress and 435 of those members hold the purse strings.

Just as with the healthcare issue, President Trump would be wise to start knocking on the doors of the Freedom Caucus.

[txradioguy]

This is fantasy.  The Dems will lose this "fight", too.

That's precious. 

[txradioguy]

The legislation to build the wall was passed when W was president.  All that needs to be done is reinstate the funding for it that Obama cut off...then hire the contractors.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel on this. It could be a very easy "win" for Trump if he'd listen.

[Emjay]

The legislation to build the wall was passed when W was president.  All that needs to be done is reinstate the funding for it that Obama cut off...then hire the contractors.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel on this. It could be a very easy "win" for Trump if he'd listen.

As would healthcare.  But he doesn't

[txradioguy]

As would healthcare.  But he doesn't

You would think he'd jump at the opportunity to check off two easy blocks that didn't really require reinventing the wheel.

Makes you wonder if he's really all that interested in getting something done. 

[Elderberry]

The legislation to build the wall was passed when W was president.  All that needs to be done is reinstate the funding for it that Obama cut off...then hire the contractors.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel on this. It could be a very easy "win" for Trump if he'd listen.

 The Secure Fence Act of 2006 called for building some 700 miles of double-fence construction along the Mexican border, complete with vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting.

Not a wall. And not for the entire border.

[txradioguy]

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 called for building some 700 miles of double-fence construction along the Mexican border, complete with vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting.

Not a wall. And not for the entire border.

Better than what's there now. Better to start with what's already been approved and improve it once the initial barrier is in place.

The bottom line is the legislation to get the ball rolling to secure the border is in place. Trump just has to pull the trigger on it.

And besides...Trump has backtracked on what he defines as a wall since he made his initial boast.

This is better than spending the next four years haggling over something that won't get done.

[Elderberry]

Better than what's there now. Better to start with what's already been approved and improve it once the initial barrier is in place.

The bottom line is the legislation to get the ball rolling to secure the border is in place. Trump just has to pull the trigger on it.

And besides...Trump has backtracked on what he defines as a wall since he made his initial boast.

This is better than spending the next four years haggling over something that won't get done.

Status of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 : "Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., wrote in Human Events Online on May 27, 2010, that only 34.3 miles of double-layer fence had been completed along the southern border"   And I don't believe any more double-layer fence has been built since 2010. 

"Trump just has to pull the trigger on it. "

This I gotta see.

[txradioguy]

Status of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 : "Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., wrote in Human Events Online on May 27, 2010, that only 34.3 miles of double-layer fence had been completed along the southern border"   And I don't believe any more double-layer fence has been built since 2010. 

"Trump just has to pull the trigger on it. "

This I gotta see.

Fact of the matter is that as of Ma 2010 the Dems were in control of both Houses of Congress...unlike the Republicans now running things...Nancy and harry had no qualms about defunding things they didn't like...IIRC they made sure very little money was budgeted towards the wall...then Obama killed finding entirely just before he lost control of the House.

All it would take...IMHO to get it going again is for Trump to earmark money towards funding the Secure Fence Act of 2006 "to ensure that President Bush's intent of securing the Southern border is realized and as a first step in fulfilling my promise to build an even more secure wall between the U.S. and Mexico to curb illegal immigration and the flow of terrorists into the U.S."


It really could be just that easy.