07/25/2019

Trump Signals Support for Budget Deal

The deal was reached as the House prepares to leave for the August recess

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signaled he will support a two-year bipartisan budget deal that raises spending limits by $320 billion and suspends the debt ceiling until after the 2020 elections.

The deal was reached as the House prepares to leave Washington for the August recess, giving Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) only this week to pass legislation. Pelosi is counting on rank-and-file Democrats to back the bill while some progressives have grumbled about concessions to the White House. As part of the deal, Pelosi agreed that Democrats would not include controversial “poison pill” policy riders in future spending bills.

“We’re going to pass it,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters Tuesday night. “I think we’ll get a good number. I don’t know if it’s going to be huge but we’re going to pass it.”

In a “Dear Colleague” letter on Tuesday, Pelosi emphasized the “robust funding for critical domestic priorities” in the deal. “Democrats have always insisted on parity in increases between defense and non-defense, and we are pleased that our increase in non-defense budget authority exceeds the defense number by $10 billion over the next two years,” Pelosi said. “It also means Democrats have secured an increase of more than $100 billion in funding for domestic priorities since President Trump took office.”

The Senate is in session for an additional week and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he also supports the deal reached between Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. McConnell said the deal is acceptable because it leaves out “left-wing riders” and commits more money to rebuilding the military after “years of neglect.”

Though they probably don’t have enough votes to stop the deal from passing in the Democratic-controlled House, leaders of the House Freedom Caucus say they oppose the measure because of the big spending increases that will only add to the growing deficit.

House conservatives were hoping to get the ear of Trump but the president tweeted Tuesday night that he wants to sign the bill.

“Budget deal gives great victories to our military and vets, keeps out Democrat poison pill riders,” Trump tweeted. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress need to act ASAP and support this deal.”

This article was provided to OSAE by the Power of A and ASAE's Inroads.