With just hours before another shutdown would have commenced, the Senate voted 65-32 to pass a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill. With President Trump’s signature, a threatened shutdown will be avoided for at least six months. However, as it is with many compromises, few in Washington could declare total victory.
The pattern has become all too familiar. For months the federal government has been funded with a series of budget extension bills that are not really budgets at all. In spite of that Reuters and a host of other news sources and politicians called the bill a budget, when in fact, it’s a spending bill. During the Obama years, only one budget was passed and time will tell if this same pattern continues through Trump’s time in office.
Thought they largely voted in favor of passing the bill, more Republicans than Democrats have been vocal in their distaste for it.
“Republicans control the government, yet Congress still follows the Democrats’ playbook. Time and again, spending skyrockets, and conservatives are expected to fall in line to praise the party for making the big-spending status quo worse,” said Rand Paul.
President Trump surprised even his own aids when he threatened to not sign the bill when all assumed he would sign it. During the last hours of Senate debate, he tweeted:
I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded.
Even after the signing, Trump blasted the opposition for obstructing budget negotiations and called for the Senate to end its filibuster rules, in particular, its so-called Super Majority and for Congress to approve line-item veto authority to the President.
Five Key Areas in the Spending Bill
Gun violence
A major inclusion in the bill was money for what is called the “Fix NICS” measure. Fix NCIS will strengthen the background check system. President Trump has been pushing for improvements to the nation’s system of background checks emphasizing the need for better checks on mental health issues.
The fix for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) will provide additional funding to states and agencies that comply with the system. The spending bill also penalizes agencies and states that do not comply with NICS.
In line with Trump’s call for school security, the bill allocates over $2 billion to train law enforcement officers and school officials to identify signs of potential violence and install metal detectors.
Tax Fix
Last years $1.5 trillion tax bill was passed in such haste that several mistakes were overlooked. One of those gave farmers who sell their crops to cooperatives a higher tax advantage as opposed to other buyers. Democrats agree to that fix in exchange for expanded tax credits for low-income housing.
Gateway Project
Though Trump opposes it, a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River will get some funding through this bill. The Gateway Project may receive as much as $540 million, with New York and New Jersey already committed to paying half of the estimated $11 billion cost.
Johnson Amendment
President Trump signed an executive order last year aimed at weakening the law and this spending bill weakens it even more. A previous House plan would have dismantled the 1954 tax law that protects philanthropic, charitable, and religious organizations from partisan politicking.
The Wall
The passage and signing of this spending bill are not without its pitfalls. President Trump faces the loss of support from his generally rock solid base, not only for the size of the bill but the lack of financial support its shows for one of his most ardent campaign promises – the Wall.
Conservative are not at pleased with the $1.3 trillion price tag and a failure to defund Planned Parenthood or fund the wall. Most of the $1.6 billion earmarked for border security goes to existing fence repairs, not new walls.
At the bill’s signing, Trump made it plain that he would not sign another one like it, ever. That is probably a good move considering the mood of his conservative base.
“The president was really sold a bill of goods here,” said Christopher Ruddy, Newsmax’s chief executive. “Conservatives look at this omnibus bill and say, ‘This is not why they elected Donald Trump. This is not a good bill for him to sign.’ ”
~ American Liberty Report
