Trump poised for a September fight over border wall

BY NIV ELIS - 08/21/17 06:00 AM EDT

Funding for President Trump’s proposed border wall is poised to be a central issue in this fall’s showdown over government funding. Unless Congress approves a new funding bill, the government will shut down on Oct. 1.

Trump is demanding funds for the wall that was the centerpiece of his successful presidential campaign, but Democrats have warned they will vote en masse against any legislation that includes money for the wall. “I don’t see Democrats going along with anything that funds the wall,” said one senior House Democratic aide.

That’s a huge problem, since Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass a bill to fund the government. In the Senate, Democrats can block legislation unless the GOP can get eight members of the minority to vote to end a filibuster.

While Trump and members of his administration have suggested that they might favor a “good shutdown,” congressional Republicans worry that it will fuel the notion that their party, which controls both chambers of Congress and the White House, is unable to govern.

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http://thehill.com/policy/finance/347153-trump-poised-for-a-september-fight-over-border-wall