WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s top Republican on Tuesday pushed congressional bargainers to reach a border security deal without first getting President Donald Trump’s approval, a month after the impulsive president scuttled an apparent bipartisan deal and triggered a historically long federal shutdown.
Capitol Hill talks to resolve an impasse over Trump’s demands for billions of dollars for his long-sought border wall were making progress, participants said. But with lawmakers facing a deadline to complete their work by Feb. 15 or confront a renewed shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he’s not seeking Trump’s blessing in advance.
McConnell’s tactic could remove a significant hurdle confronting the talks. Trump’s demands have shifted abruptly on several issues during his two years in the White House, and top Republicans seem to feel that the best course will be for them to focus on reaching a compromise with Democrats.
McConnell told reporters that negotiators “ought to reach an agreement, and then we’ll hope that the president finds it worth signing.”
That’s a break from his stance during the recent 35-day partial federal shutdown, which began after Trump — under pressure from conservative pundits — turned against an agreement to keep agencies open that both parties thought he’d embraced. That closure ended Jan. 25, and during it McConnell insisted that Trump’s buy-in would be needed before any agreement could be reached.
Trump is seeking $5.7 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, but it’s clear that the House-Senate negotiations won’t approve nearly that much. The Senate put a $1.6 billion plan on the table last year, though many House liberals think even that amount is too high.
In his State of the Union address, Trump said he wanted to strike a border security “compromise” but emphasized that a “physical barrier, or wall” must be included. “I will get it built,” he said.
At the same time, negotiators on the House-Senate panel sounded increasingly optimistic of reaching an agreement. The lead Senate GOP negotiator, Richard Shelby of Alabama, said he had a good conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and that staff is making progress in behind-the-scenes talks.
“Both sides have moved,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said. “And hopefully we’re going to continue to see movement.”
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