Tag: federal budget

Does Trump understand how the federal budget process works?

President declares he has ‘overruled’ staff on Special Olympics, but it’s Congress who will decide

In a curious statement that defies the realities of the federal spending process, President Donald Trump declared Thursday that “the Special Olympics will be funded” because he has “overruled” his own staff who wanted to cut off the federal spigot to the charity.

The Education Department’s fiscal 2020 spending request proposes eliminating $17.6 million for the Special Olympics, and Secretary Betsy DeVos and other Trump surrogates say the charity simply does not need the federal funds.

They also have lashed out at outraged congressional Democrats.

View the complete March 28 article by John T. Bennett on The Roll Call website here.

With Talks in Flux, Shutdown Showdown Gets Closer

The following article by Lindsey McPherson was posted on the Roll Call website December 19, 2017:

Fate of ‘cromnibus’ hangs in the balance

President Donald Trump walks with House Speaker Paul Ryan, November 2017. Credit: AP/Jacquelyn Martin

House Republicans’ plan to pass a full-year Defense appropriations bill with a continuing resolution for remaining agencies through Jan. 19 was supposed to be an easy lift, a measure designed to show the Senate their unified support for increased national security funding. Continue reading “With Talks in Flux, Shutdown Showdown Gets Closer”

Chances for government shutdown rising

The following article by Scott Wong was posted on the Hill website November 28, 2017:

The odds of a government shutdown grew dramatically Tuesday as President Trump tweeted that he saw no path to a year-end deal with Democrats “Chuck and Nancy,” who then promptly backed out of a meeting at the White House.

Shortly after Trump’s “I don’t see a deal!” tweet, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said they didn’t see the point of sitting down with Trump. Continue reading “Chances for government shutdown rising”

Different Trumps Displayed on Each End of Penn. Ave.

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website November 29, 2017:

Dems get ‘street fighter,’ GOP gets charmer in chief

President Donald Trump arrives on Tuesday with Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for the Republican Senate Policy luncheon in the Capitol to discuss a tax overhaul bill. Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

President Donald Trump sometimes tries to charm others during negotiations, but often he prefers to fight.

Both strategies were on display Tuesday, as the president and Republican leaders, even while working to shepherd a tax overhaul through the Senate, turned their attention to a massive spending measure needed to avert a government shutdown next month — a measure that will require Democratic votes to pass.

Trump could have chosen to start negotiations with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer with the kind of charm offensive he laid on Xi Jinping during his recent trip to Asia. After meeting with the Chinese president, whose support he needs to address the North Korea threat, Trump declared him “more powerful” than Mao Zedong. Continue reading “Different Trumps Displayed on Each End of Penn. Ave.”

Trump Continues to Swipe at Democrats Who Hold Votes He Needs

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website November 28, 2017:

Go-it-alone approach could work on taxes, but not government funding

President Donald Trump and GOP leaders are going it alone on their tax effort, but they need Democrats on resolving spending disputes. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Following on what he called a “love fest” with Senate Republicans at a lunchtime Capitol meeting, President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed momentum on a GOP-led overhaul of the tax code and swiped at Democrats whom he will need to get any sort of resolution to a rapidly approaching standoff over government spending.

After leaving the Capitol and setting up camp at the White House for a meeting initially scheduled among him and the Hill’s top leaders, the president said he was not surprised House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., ended up skipping the meeting at the executive mansion after he tweeted he didn’t see any kind of deal possible.  Continue reading “Trump Continues to Swipe at Democrats Who Hold Votes He Needs”

Trump and Democrats trade insults to start tense month of negotiations on year-end priorities

The following article by Ed O’Keefe and Sean Sullivan was posted on the Washington Post website November 28, 2017:

The top two Congressional Democrats cancelled a planned meeting on Nov. 28 with President Trump after he said he didn’t think they could reach a budget deal. (Reuters)

President Trump and top lawmakers Tuesday failed to craft the outlines of a spending agreement as Democrats backed out of a planned meeting at the White House amid growing acrimony over a slate of year-end legislative priorities, with a potential government shutdown looming over the negotiations.

The impasse all but ensures another holiday-season standoff over legislation designed to keep the government open and that also is expected to settle complex issues regarding immigration and health care. Continue reading “Trump and Democrats trade insults to start tense month of negotiations on year-end priorities”