FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Trump Team and Democrats Agree ‘In Principle’ in Deal To Avert Government Shutdown

Feb. 12, 2019 (EIRNS)—Last evening came the announcement that a deal had been reached “in principle” by the bipartisan group of four Congressional negotiators, to avert a government shutdown over disagreements on border security. The same evening, President Donald Trump held a big rally in the border city of El Paso, Texas, on “security.” The four negotiators were Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Kay Granger (R-TX). Trump himself had been very involved in conferring in person with principals during the past few days. On Feb. 7, he met with Shelby at the White House. Over the weekend, Trump’s Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney met with a bipartisan Congressional group at Camp David.

The main details of the deal which have been released so far, are that there would be $1.375 billion for 55 miles of new border barriers, and funding for 40,520 ICE detention beds, and an increase in funding of $1.7 billion for border-related work by the Homeland Security Department.

Trump’s event last night had received 69,000 requests for tickets, out of which 35,000 were accommodated: 10,000 were inside, and another 25,000 outside, watching big screens. Trump also played up border security by hosting a White House event before leaving for Texas, attended by many sheriffs.

The four Congressional leaders stress the point that they achieved bipartisan compromise. Democratic Representative Lowey tweeted about their results, “This is a compromise. No one got everything they wanted, but it does secure the border.” This has roiled CNN, MSNBC, and the other anti-Trump media, which are jumping up and down, that Trump won’t sign it.