Despite President Trump’s talk of a government shutdown (shown here), it may not be in the cards.
Some congressional Republicans are firmly opposed.
Ohio’s Steve Stivers, chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee, told ABC’s This Week, “I don’t think we’re going to shut down the government.”
So…does that mean there’ll be funding for a wall?
He didn’t say.
“I think we’re going to make sure we keep the government open, but we’re going to get better policies on immigration. … We need border security. We can’t have open borders that the opposing party is for.”
Sen. Ron Johnson — head of the Senate Homeland Security Committee — isn’t a fan of the shutdown, either. He guested Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, preaching a message of “Uh, no.”
“I don’t think it’d be helpful. So let’s try and avoid it. … I certainly don’t like playing shutdown politics.”
If he doesn’t like playing politics, then he’s really in the wrong business.
Really.
New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Lujan — also appearing on This Week — said he wants reform, with cooperation from across the aisle.
I must warn you — the following quote contains that most annoying and meaningless of all political words: “comprehensive.” TWICE. Hold your nose:
“Democrats want to work on a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform package to address all of our issues across the country. … Democrats are standing strong when it comes to a comprehensive immigration reform conversation with the American people that is fair, that is tough, and that will be good for America.”
So what does this mean? Saying the GOP won’t shut down the government could be an indication that they’re going to sufficiently fight for a wall before operational funding runs out (and Johnson did allude to passing appropriation bills), roughly a month before the November midterms. Or, it could just mean they’re girly-men and won’t push hard enough to succeed. Hopefully, it’s not the latter. But I’m not holding my breath. I’m holding my nose.
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