We
knew last week there would be no money to start construction on a
project that the president says is more important to his base than
anything else. But the final agreement goes further, putting strict
limitations on how Trump can use new money for border security (e.g. to invest
in new technology and repair existing fencing). Administration officials have
insisted they already have the statutory authority to start building the wall under
a 2006 law. This prevents such an end run.
The $1.5 billion for border security is also half as much as
the White House requested. Additionally, there are no cuts in funding to
sanctuary cities, something a federal judge said last week would be required
for the Justice Department to follow through on its threats. And there is also
no money for a deportation force.
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To keep negotiations moving, the White House
already agreed last week to continue paying Obamacare subsidies. This
money, which goes to insurance companies, reduces out-of-pocket expenses for
low-income people who get coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The Trump
administration justifies giving up on this because of the potential to resolve
the bigger issue by repealing Obamacare.
I might get tired of this winning thing after all. Bonus win:
Trump fought to cut the Environmental Protection Agency
by a third. The final deal trims its budget by just 1 percent, with no staff
cuts. As part of a compromise, the EPA gets $80 million less than last
year, but the budget is $8 billion.
Four more at the link.
You were right about the odds of Trump getting the wall being the same as for him (or Melania and Barron, for that matter) getting a unicorn. Speaking of which, I turn our conversation into a post about unicorn frappuccinos.
ReplyDeleteI thought the odds of AHCA getting passed by the House were in that same ballpark. Starting to sound like a coin flip. I don't understand the logic of kicking it over to the Senate when it's just going to come back unacceptable to the Crazy Caucus. Guess I'll never cut it in politics.
ReplyDeleteOops, should've read the news first. Less than a coin flip now.
ReplyDeleteHouse Speaker Paul Ryan and his deputies attempted to rebrand the party’s troubled health care plan as providing “layers of protection” for people with preexisting conditions, even as members of their caucus continued to defect from backing the legislation.
Layers of protection? This is starting to get sad. If they weren't such dicks, I mean.