Hill Republicans revolt over Trump's plans to build border wall

[herding cats]

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico is facing a major problem: A wall of resistance from his own party.

A growing number of congressional Republicans are objecting to the cost and viability of a proposal that was a rallying cry for the billionaire businessman during his insurgent campaign. Interviews with more than a dozen GOP lawmakers across the ideological spectrum suggest Trump could have a difficult time getting funding for his plan approved by Congress.

Many bluntly told CNN they'd likely vote against any Trump plan that is not fully offset with spending cuts, while others questioned whether Trump's vision would adequately resolve the problems at the border.

"If you're going to spend that kind of money, you're going to have to show me where you're going to get that money," said Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a key swing vote who has already broken with Trump over his nominee for secretary of education.

"I don't see how you can get a bill like that through (Congress) without offsets," she added. "I don't see how that's possible."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/03/politics/border-wall-republicans/

This about to get interesting.

[Orsino]

1. It's looking like they only need him to stack the courts. n/t

[Else You Are Mad]

2. This frightens me:

Many bluntly told CNN they'd likely vote against any Trump plan that is not fully offset with spending cuts...

Offset by spending cuts is not the same as raising taxes or issuing bonds etc. This means that these Republicans would have no problem if they cut $20 Billion in spending from the budget. Given who Trump has surrounded himself with, this will be no problem for them to do so by cutting grants to universities, cutting grants to science, arts etc and to cut what they call 'entitlements.' If Trump does this, then the Congressional GOP will have no problem signing on to the wall.

[doodle1]

4. that is the way I read it too nt

[herding cats]

5. Oh, yes.

We need to keep a very close eye on what they defund. Which was in their plans anyway to increase military spending.

[Else You Are Mad]

6. If it were up to the GOP (and it is)

They would defund everything except the military and the corporate and wealthy welfare (tax cuts).

[bathroommonkey76]

3. McCain: Mexico won't pay for the wall

Trump's poll numbers will crater after this news.

Link to tweet

[mindem]

7. Simple solution

let the folks who voted for president asshat, the ones who want the wall, pay for the wall. If it is really that important to them, I'm sure they won't mind picking up the cost, patriots that they are.

[gratuitous]

9. By my precise calculations

Trump received something like 60 million votes, and the cost of the wall is about $20 billion. That works about to about $335 per voter (give or take). Now, we're going to have to figure in inflation, cost overruns*, and featherbedding, so round it up to $400 per voter. I wonder how many Trump voters are on fixed incomes such that $400 would be a grave financial hardship (and I use the word "grave" advisedly)?

The piper has played his tune; time to pay up.

*Republicans are always yammering about waste, fraud and abuse in government programs and projects, and there's no reason to assume that this project would be the exception)

[mindem]

12. I know,

they could work off the $400 they owe for the wall by working in the fields picking produce, etc. Someone needs to take the place of all those unneeded agricultural workers. Or even better, have their kids do the fieldwork so they can learn to value the reward of hard labor for little pay.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. The Republicans are revolting.

We knew that.

[NCTraveler]

10. Trump needs to set up a Go Fund Me page for his pathetic wall. nt.

[Bengus81]

11. As soon as Trump GUTS some needed programs they'll jump on board in a SECOND

It's all a setup. Just watch.....

[NCjack]

13. Future News

Kelleyanne Conway says that "Pres. Trump never promised to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico and send the bill to Mexico. Rumors to the contrary are fake news, by reporters stooging for the DEMs. Are you crazy -- a wall would cost trillions of dollars. Mexico doesn't have loot like that."