BACKING DOWN FROM THE BORDER WALL? - As congressional leaders continue negotiations to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week, the White House has indicated it is looking for alternative ways to fund President Trump’s signature campaign promise of a border wall without a government funding lapse ... Trump has demanded $5 billion in funding for the wall, estimated to cost between $20 billion and $25 billion; Democrats countered with $1.3 billion -- on the condition it was for fencing and not a wall.
A Senate Democratic aide told FOX News that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., proposed $1.6 billion for border security (which would include fencing, not a concrete wall as Trump promised his supporters) and a $1 billion “slush fund” for Trump to use for his immigration agenda. Democrats rejected that offer. Trump on Tuesday took to Twitter in defense of his desired wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, describing it as an aesthetically-pleasing, not concrete, structure that will also offer the necessary protection for the country.
At the White House, there were signs that the administration was backing down on its previous tough demands for the $5 billion funding. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters they were “disappointed” that the Senate hadn’t voted on anything, and said the White House was looking at “every avenue” to find additional funding -- including having funds redirected or "reprogrammed" from other departments.
FOX News' Chad Pergram reports the following: "In the coming days, the House and Senate will likely approve some form of a short-term spending measure to avert a partial government shutdown in the wee hours of Saturday morning. If there's no action, then nine federal departments would close just days before Christmas. Instead, a tentative, stopgap package simply re-ups the remaining seven spending bills at current levels through Feb. 8." - Additional reporting by Adam Shaw
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- Brian Terry's family hits Democrats over opposition to border wall
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