We’re 29 days into the government shutdown but that might be about to change. According to Axios, President Trump is planning on making a deal and will announce his plans in a 3 p.m. announcement from the Diplomatic Room of the White House today.
First Move
President Trump will be announcing an offer to Democrats and the nation on Saturday afternoon. After House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, sent a letter earlier this week, stating that Trump should postpone his State of the Union address, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell realized that she wasn’t going to be the one to make the first move.
According to Axios Mitch McConnell told Trump that “Pelosi was never going to move.” And that if Trump wanted anything to happen “Trump needed to be the one to put something forward he would sign so that McConnell would have the presidential backing to bring it to the floor.” [1]
And not just anything, this has to be something that the Democrats have been wanting. It can’t just be a win for the Republicans because then the Democrats wouldn’t be won over to give him funding for his wall.
The Offer
Which is why the offer is reported to include Trump’s $5.7 billion wall money in exchange for the BRIDGE Act, something that died in Congress a while back but would extend protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). [2]
The offer also is expected to include legislation to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders.
Which Will it Be?
Both, the BRIDGE act and DACA have long been wanted by Democrats. But is it enough for them to let him build his wall?
So far, the government shutdown has all been on him. If Speaker Pelosi passes his offer up, the blame of the shutdown could move to her. Both sides have refused to compromise thus far. Which is why the shutdown could be heading for another month. Unless Pelosi decides that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and accepts Trump’s offer.
Notes:
- ^“Exclusive: Trump expected to propose DACA-TPS immigration compromise.” Axios, 19 Jan. 2019, www.axios.com/trump-expected-immigration-compromise-speech-border-wall-a8713395-d085-4921-a0c8-699872dcd534.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic. (go back ↩)
- ^“Axios: Trump to propose DACA, TPS extensions for wall.” Hot Air, 19 Jan. 2019, hotair.com/archives/2019/01/19/axios-trump-propose-daca-tps-extensions-wall. (go back ↩)
