Senate Democrats have a message for Senate Republicans who may be considering including billions of dollars for Donald Trump’s monument to hate in next month’s government funding bill: Don’t even think about it. Led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), top Democrats are threatening a potential shutdown if Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tries to include funds for the wall that even he’s admitted Mexico isn’t paying for in the must-pass bill. Bring it on:
The warning from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and others came in a letter Monday to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The letter also warns against adding other "poison pills" such as provisions to roll back environmental or consumer protections and urges additional money for domestic programs to match the administration's planned Pentagon increases.
"We believe it would be inappropriate to insist on the inclusion of (wall) funding in a must-pass appropriations bill that is needed for the Republican majority in control of the Congress to avert a government shutdown so early in President Trump's administration," said the letter, which was provided to The Associated Press. Trump's proposal for the wall was a centerpiece of his presidential campaign and he claimed he could persuade Mexico to pay for it.
The letter from Democrats implicitly threatens a filibuster showdown — and potential government shutdown — if Republicans try to attach controversial Trump agenda items to the must-do legislation.
Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) joined in the letter, which also states that Trump “has not detailed where he thinks the wall should be built, how his plan will be constructive and how Mexico will pay for it despite Trump's insistence that Mexico will fund the border wall,” according to POLITICO. It’s almost like Trump made a catchy campaign promise to stir up his base at rallies with absolutely no idea how to follow through.