UPDATE: Donald Trump met with Republicans at the White House and reminded House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., of his pledge to fight for border wall funds now.
Original Story…
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C, and the House Freedom Caucus are urging Republicans to fight for the border wall and calling on President Donald Trump to veto a short-term spending bill.
“Today we have an opportunity to show the American people who we are. Do we stand up and fight for their interests?” he tweeted. “Or do we surrender before the hard work even starts–all for the sake of political convenience?”
“No more excuses. No more games. Stand up and fight.”
Today we have an opportunity to show the American people who we are. Do we stand up and fight for their interests? Or do we surrender before the hard work even starts–all for the sake of political convenience?
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) December 20, 2018
No more excuses. No more games. Stand up and fight.
Chairman Meadows took to the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday night, urging President Donald Trump to veto any bill that does not include border wall funding.
He slammed outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., for not keeping his promise during the last fight over a government shutdown. President Trump reluctantly signed a monstrous omnibus bill, without border wall funding.
But he vowed never to do so again, and Chairman Meadows reminded him of that promise on the floor.
“You know what, Mr. Speaker? It’s after the midterms,” he directed toward Speaker Ryan. “And we’re here to say that we’re ready to fight on behalf of all the freedom-loving Americans to make sure we have secure borders.”
“Mr. President, we’re going to back you up. If you veto this bill we’ll be there. But more importantly the American people will be there. They’ll be there to support you. Let’s build the wall and make sure that we do our job in Congress.”
The president was initially requesting the U.S. Congress appropriate $5 billion for construction of his promised border wall, something experts on the U.S. southern border have said they desperately need to stem the flow of illegal immigration.
Behind closed doors, the White House signaled the president would be willing to accept $1.7 billion, far less than what Mexico is slotted to receive to help their nation deal with illegal immigration.
Currently, the establishment in both parties have agreed to kick the can down the very short road to February 8, 2019. It doesn’t include any appropriations specifically marked for the construction of a border wall.
The 116th U.S. Congress will reflect a larger and more Trump-friendly Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, while control of the U.S. House will be turned over to the Democratic Party.
While the Republican conference will also be less moderate than the previous, it also overwhelmingly elected Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to be the next minority leader.
He was opposed by another prominent member of the more conservative Freedom Caucus, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” Rep. Jordan said on the floor of the U.S. House.
“Fool the American people four times, shame on Congress.”
