Disaster relief talks stalled by Trump feud with Puerto Rico

Senate negotiators say a deal on disaster relief is unlikely this week as President Trump refuses to agree to more funding for Puerto Rico in the midst of a feud with public officials on the island.

Trump’s beef with Puerto Rico has put Senate Republicans from Midwestern and Southern states in a tough spot, because they say farmers in their home states need assistance immediately.

Instead of fast action, however, the standoff is going to stretch into next week. That gives lawmakers only a few days to reach a deal before Congress is scheduled to start a two-week recess on April 15.

“We're stalled. Now we're at an impasse,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who is spearheading the negotiations. “The linchpin is Puerto Rico right now.”

Shelby on Thursday objected to compromise legislation proposed by Democrats that would have increased funding for Puerto Rico and included $2.5 billion in new funding for storm-ravaged communities in the Midwest and Southeast.

Democrats saw the effort as a compromise since funding for the states is a GOP priority and Democrats want more money for Puerto Rico. But Trump opposes the effort.

“My Democratic colleagues know that the measure they raised today does not have the president’s support,” Shelby said.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/437491-disaster-relief-talks-stalled-by-trump-feud-with-puerto-rico