Republicans failed again.
With control of Congress and President Trump in the White House, Republicans gave Democrats a big victory in the budget deal to fund the government for the rest of the 2017 fiscal year.
Fox News reported on the budget deal:
While the deal does include an increase in military spending as requested by Trump, it does not reduce funding for so-called “sanctuary cities” – jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law – and continues to fund abortion provider Planned Parenthood.
Non-defense spending also sees an increase, and Democrats managed to kill 160 Republican riders on issues such as environmental regulations. The deal also includes a $2 billion increase in spending for the National Institute of Health.
The bill also does not include funds to build the security wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Washington Post story describes how the budget deal is empowering Democrats to take the fight to Trump.
Democrats think they have set the stage to block President Trump’s legislative priorities for years to come by winning major concessions in a spending bill to keep the government open.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) secured nearly $5 billion in new domestic spending by exploiting disagreements between Trump and GOP lawmakers over spending priorities.
Democrats’ lopsided victory on the five-month deal, which is likely to be approved this week, means it will be very difficult — if not impossible — for the GOP to exert its will in future budget negotiations, including when it comes to Trump’s 2018 budget blueprint.
The Republican fail underscores the total lack of leadership skills of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Ryan initially pushed the wrong ObamaCare replacement bill and now can’t get the votes with the revised health care bill.
In the end, Ryan is an establishment Republican unwilling to challenge the status quo.
Trump’s support of the bill is also disappointing. The minor victories the president claims are overwhelmed by the concessions to Democrats.
Trump must not allow Democrats to run over his agenda.
