Neutraligon wrote:4:35 p.m.: White House says it wants ‘down payment’ on border wall
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump would support a short-term funding bill only if it includes a “down payment” on the border wall — something Pelosi has already said is a non-starter.
Her statement came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) met to discuss possible paths forward on reopening the government.
“Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Charles E. Schumer are meeting now to see whether they can work out of the deadlock,” Sanders said. “As was made clear to Senator Lindsay Graham, the three-week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall.”
As he exited McConnell’s office, Schumer declined to offer specifics, saying repeatedly “we’re talking” when asked about the discussion.
Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally who spoke with the president by phone Thursday afternoon, echoed the White House’s “down payment” language in a statement.
“The way forward is clear to me: a three-week continuing resolution (CR) that includes a down payment on wall/barrier funding and priorities of Democrats for disaster relief, showing good faith from both sides,” Graham said. “I strongly urge my Democratic colleagues to work with the White House on a three-week CR that includes a down payment on wall/barrier funding consistent with DHS priorities.”
From the Washington post, Trump is willing to open the government in return for a "down payment" on the wall.
The $5 billion he's been asking for this whole time is a small fraction of what an actual two thousand mile wall would cost. Asking for just a down-payment is nothing more than rephrasing his demands. He may as well have asked for $5,000 million instead of $5 billion.
