Trump really doesn't understand how Democrats work. All he has to do is to accept the $2 billion with 50 miles and then with what are called "cost overruns" he should spend $10 billion and then just build whatever the hell he wants to build. This is how the Democrats do it.
Trump should play the game by Democrat rules.
He doesn't have to do any of that. He has more than enough in the discretionary budgets for departments under the executive branch (such as Homeland Security and DOD) to cover this and more.
The secure Fence Act, already law, allows engineers to be flexible with design and construction based on the needs of the area.
None of these games are necessary if the goal is actually improving security.
Great point!
I think this exactly where this is headed. The Pubs have again shown themselves incapable of negotiating with the Rats. Trump is relentless and loves being seen as the "hero". He will build the wall on his own despite all the DC types trying to stop him.
He doesn't have to do any of that. He has more than enough in the discretionary budgets for departments under the executive branch (such as Homeland Security and DOD) to cover this and more.
The secure Fence Act, already law, allows engineers to be flexible with design and construction based on the needs of the area.
None of these games are necessary if the goal is actually improving security.
So we deplete two budgets that were decimated by sequestration and Obama's hatred of ICE et al for almost 8 years just to make up for a shortfall that is two days of the cost of detaining illegal aliens in this country every year?
Are you high? Especially where the DoD is concerned. Not sure where you come up with this notion that the DoD budget is "discretionary" but that's not true. Same for DHS.
If anything those two budgets are off limits. Unlike some of the other executive branch departments...those two actually have a real world mission.
That kind of thinking is what the Dems would concoct to pay for the wall...that's not a conservative idea or solution in any way shape or form.
I didn't say to 'deplete two budgets'. What Trump was asking for was a tiny fraction of the discretionary budget under Executive Branch departments. He was only asking for $5 Billion to start. For 2019 alone, those departments have $111.4 Billion in discretionary budget on top of their appropriated funds.
Yeah Kevin! The democrats have been giving in just this way for ages you sick loser!
He doesn't have to do any of that. He has more than enough in the discretionary budgets for departments under the executive branch (such as Homeland Security and DOD) to cover this and more.
The secure Fence Act, already law, allows engineers to be flexible with design and construction based on the needs of the area.
None of these games are necessary if the goal is actually improving security.
You don't seem to understand what taking that kind of money out of either budget would do to their operations...those "discretionary funds" for the DoD...I believe the term we use for that os OCO money. That helps fund what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. In DHS..."discretionary funds"...IIRC..It helps pay ICE agents the overtime they rack up protecting the border...inspecting cargo...performing customs duties because they are short agents.
That $111.4 billion should be worked into their normal budgets...but it isn't and has to get to them in another way...and you want to deny it to them and potentially harm ongoing missions.
Well done.
How about we look at the "discretionary funds" of the Social Security Office...or the SNAP program in the AG Department...how much fat could be trimmed from the Welfare program as a whole?
I'm guessing enough to build a double wall.
But hey...go ahead and keep cheerleading to take money from two agencies that actually help carry out two of the jobs the President is actually tasked with doing.
It is certainly troubling that the GOP House members couldn't find a way to elect a different Leader.
Exactly what I've been saying for months. Lots of departments have discretionary funds which he can use. Hello, Mr. President, let's get this darn wall built!!!!!
No. Not taking out of budget but discretionary funds which are in addition to $$ in the budget.
If the DoD or DHS have been allotted "discretionary money"...don't touch it...it's needed for too many things with both departments right now.
Mac Thornberry was one of the first to object when the use of military funds was suggested last March.
“My view is that the funding sources need to come from the appropriate place. If they’re doing law enforcement, border patrol work, that’s who needs to pay,†Thornberry said.
“We cannot view the military as a cash cow to meet any national need that comes up because we have real military needs,†he said.
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/03/thornberry-military-budget-border-wall/483649002/ (https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/03/thornberry-military-budget-border-wall/483649002/)
Mac Thornberry is completely wrong on this! The entire purpose of the U.S. Military is to protect the country's citizens from foreign threats!
Except the border is under law enforcement authority, as we’ve seen with previous national guard and active duty deployments. The only way that changes is with a declaration of war or martial law.
Mac Thornberry was one of the first to object when the use of military funds was suggested last March.
“My view is that the funding sources need to come from the appropriate place. If they’re doing law enforcement, border patrol work, that’s who needs to pay,†Thornberry said.
“We cannot view the military as a cash cow to meet any national need that comes up because we have real military needs,†he said.
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/03/thornberry-military-budget-border-wall/483649002/ (https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/03/thornberry-military-budget-border-wall/483649002/)
If the DoD or DHS have been allotted "discretionary money"...don't touch it...it's needed for too many things with both departments right now.
This makes no sense.
DOD and DHS first priority is defense of the nation. We are being invaded by masses of illegal aliens who seek to drain the nation's resources, take jobs citizens should be doing, and transform the country into a socialist country. If this isn't a war they should be fighting then nothing is, this is an existential threat to the nation.
This makes no sense.
DOD and DHS first priority is defense of the nation. We are being invaded by masses of illegal aliens who seek to drain the nation's resources, take jobs citizens should be doing, and transform the country into a socialist country. If this isn't a war they should be fighting then nothing is, this is an existential threat to the nation.
QFT.
Sadly there are people that think it's a swell idea to take discretionary funds away from both departments to provide money for the wall that the Dems are refusing to give.
And that has absolutely nothing to do with putting necessary barriers in place on the border.
He's exactly right!
Look at what happened to our readiness and ability to deploy while Obama was raiding the DoD budget to fund welfare and Obamacare.
We'r just now in the early stages of recovering from that...we don't need Republicans using us in the same manner the Dems did.
If we ever find out the entire story behind the Mattis resignation, I’d bet potential use of military funds for the wall had some part in it.