And here's why that rescission is supposed...because it ws never meant to last...CR: The Republicans may have the majority in both houses of Congress. They may have the presidency. But make no mistake: It’s Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer who are calling the shots in Washington, D.C., with President Donald J. Trump’s support.
The president’s total capitulation occurred in a Wednesday meeting with congressional leaders from both parties. Earlier, Minority Leaders Pelosi and Schumer proposed a plan to tie Hurricane Harvey relief to a short-term debt ceiling increase until mid-December. Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., slammed the plan as “ridiculous and disgraceful,” accusing the Democrats of playing politics with devastated lives and disaster relief funds.
Over the objections of Ryan and virtually every other top Republican — “Basically everyone with an R behind their name," Axios reports — President Trump agreed to support the Democratic plan. To make matters even worse, the president said Wednesday that his administration will always “automatically” agree on increasing the debt ceiling.
The president made a horrendous decision. An unforgivable decision. By agreeing to this plan, he’s ceded the leverage to the Democrats on DACA negotiations, government funding, and every other pet project liberals want to tie to the “must-pass” debt limit in December. By broadcasting that he’ll always support a debt-limit increase, Trump effectively made Chuck Schumer president of the United States.
It works like this: Sen. Schumer declares his intention to tie a no-strings-attached DACA legalization bill to every must-pass bill Congress will consider this fall. These must-pass bills include funding for the government (failing to pass appropriations triggers a government shutdown) and now a mid-December debt-ceiling increase (failing to pass this opens the administration to false accusations of risking government default).
Schumer will tie DACA legalization and other Democrat priorities to this must-pass legislation and then Democrats will threaten to vote “no” if any conservative policies are attached. And, with Trump’s total capitulation Wednesday, Republicans’ hands will be tied, as GOP leadership refuses to risk a government shutdown.
The Democrats get everything they want, Trump will get nothing. No border wall funding. No RAISE Act. No spending cuts. Nothing.
One aide in GOP leadership described Trump’s decision as “total victory” for the Democrats.The President threw ALL his leverage out the window! 'Cause that's what's his constituency had in mind? WTH?!
Pelosi and Schumer released a joint statement:"Dems bluffed their way into total victory. They win the politics of DACA and leverage on debt in the winter. the fate is sealed - DACA will be reauthorized without strings, Schumer has inserted himself into all negotiations in the winter, including tax, spending and immigration."
In the meeting, the President and Congressional leadership agreed to pass aid for Harvey, an extension of the debt limit, and a continuing resolution both to December 15, all together. Both sides have every intention of avoiding default in December and look forward to working together on the many issues before us. As Democratic leaders, we also made it clear that we strongly believe the DREAM Act must come to the floor and pass as soon as possible and we will not rest until we get this done.This outcome is truly astonishing; the Democrats had no power whatsoever to control the agenda. There is no reason to surrender on the debt limit, because default is never a real possibility. The government takes in far more revenue than the interest payment on the debt, which precludes the possibility of default since the government can make that interest payment.
In a government shutdown, the president holds all the cards; Congress must either acquiesce to the president’s demands on spending or override his veto. If two-thirds of both houses feel confident in banding together, they have that option — and the president can take his case to the American people during the midterm elections.
In spring, President Trump welcomed this fight. “If there’s a shutdown, there’s a shutdown,” the president said during budget negotiations in April. In early May, he repeated his willingness to fight for his agenda this September (i.e. this debt limit and budget fight right now).
Picture it, if you can: Republicans and Democrats banding together amidst a shutdown to oppose a border wall and spending cuts, and to fight for amnesty for nearly a million illegal immigrants. How would the American people react to both political parties acting in direct contradiction of the agenda that put Donald Trump in office?either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2017
We will never know, because President Trump betrayed that agenda — and all its faithful supporters — today.
CR: Just hours after news broke that President Trump had defied conservatives and Republicans by cutting a stop-gap debt limit and budget deal with Democrat leadership Wednesday, President Trump not only turned his back on the people who elected him, but also gave away his biggest bargaining chips for a wall on the southern border, says Mark Levin.So, there you have it. No wall, no law & order, no controls on spending or taxes, but plenty o' bad politics. How's all this winning feel, America?
Levin had some thoughts on Trump backtracking with his shutdown-delaying budget resolution, which was hitched to the Hurricane Harvey relief package.
“Now the president who said he would shut down the government in order to get the wall completely backtracked,” Levin remarked. “Not only is he not shutting down the government, but the debt is completely out of control and they’re doing absolutely nothing about it but adding to it.”
“He’s going to increase the debt limit without getting a damn thing,” Levin said. “All the leverage, thrown out the window.”
Related links: We can't MAGA this way
Make it stop: GOP quietly hands Dems EVERYTHING they want on CHIP
