As negotiations over wall funding come to a standstill in Washington, two Texas State reps, Kyle Biedermann and Briscoe Cain, plan to introduce legislation to fund $2.5 billion of wall construction along the Texas/Mexico border. Biedermann told Breitbart News’ Matthew Boyle that the funds would be “appropriated from the economic stabilization fund for the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2019.”

Biedermann said:

The funds would be used to design, test, construct, and install physical barriers, roads, and technology along the international land border between the State of Texas and Mexico to prevent illegal crossings in all areas.

Preference for the contracts and awarding of bids for all phases of construction would be given to Texans and Texas-owned entities.

Currently, Republicans hold the Texas State Senate, Statehouse and governorship. In addition, Governor Greg Abbott is a strong Trump ally. “This type of plan could actually work in legally acquiring appropriations for a significant portion of what Trump intends to do along the border.”

Maybe Republicans should approach new California Governor Gavin Newsom to see if he might be receptive to a similar plan. As SNL’s Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, nevermind!

Trump is currently traveling to El Paso, Texas where he plans to hold a campaign rally tonight. El Paso’s border wall has been very effective in keeping illegals from entering the country, a fact that Trump rarely fails to mention whenever he is told that walls don’t work.

Simultaneously, across town, Beto O’Rourke will be holding a counter-rally. Naturally.

Two weeks ago, Trump agreed to reopen the government for three weeks hoping that lawmakers would come to an agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies. So far, lawmakers have been unable to reach a compromise. Miscellaneous reports have Democrats offering amounts ranging from $1.3 to 2 billion for border security. And it’s not even clear what portion of these reduced amounts would be allocated for the wall itself. Negotiators are expected to meet again this afternoon.

According to Politico, “Negotiators have hoped to post compromise legislation that funds the government and gives President Trump new money for border security by Monday evening to meet the House Democratic majority’s new rules and allow passage of the legislation through the Senate by Friday evening, the new shutdown deadline.”

Based on the lack of progress made over the weekend, it would be a surprise if negotiators actually do reach an agreement this afternoon. Democrats are now calling for a cap on ICE detention beds which would force the government to release illegals into the population. Republicans, obviously, oppose that demand.

“A cap on ICE detention beds will force the Trump administration to prioritize deportation for criminals and people who pose real security threats, not law-abiding immigrants who are contributing to our country,” said Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

Trump disagrees. He said today “the Democrats do not want us to detain, or send back, criminal aliens! This is a brand new demand. Crazy!”

And, as they have all along, Democrats are trying to offer Trump as little funding as possible for the border wall.

That said, most lawmakers and Trump administration officials do not want to see the government shutdown resume on Friday.

Trump has shown repeatedly that he’s willing to make concessions. Democrats, on the other hand, not so much.

Pssssssst! Democrats, it’s called compromise.