Senate doesn’t fund ‘wall’

Published 4:34 am Wednesday, December 26, 2018

At midnight Saturday, the federal government partially shut down after the White House and Congress failed to reach a budget funding deal.

President Donald Trump has said that he will not sign any bill that does not include $5.7 billion for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The House passed a bill with $5.7 billion in border wall spending on Thursday. The Senate had already passed a short-term funding bill with under $2 billion in border security, but Trump has said he will not sign the Senate’s bill.

The House’s $5.7-billion border security proposal moved to the Senate on Friday, but it stalled as leaders continued to negotiate a compromise. Congress adjourned for the Christmas break on Saturday, and will not re-convene until Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., expressed his frustration that the Senate was unable to pass the House’s proposal.

“The question is, how do we fund the government? But the bigger question is, do we build a more secure border between the United States and Mexico? I just voted for a bill that keeps the government open, but also helps secure the border and build what people have come to refer to as the wall,” said Cassidy, in a statement. “Now, Washington, D.C., Democrats voted against the bill — I gather they’d rather have open borders and a government shutdown.

“And all I can say, it is sad protecting Americans and providing for the national defense has become a partisan issue. Barriers work, walls work, security works. Border security is national security — I hope we get it through.”