Trump sides with Democrats on debt ceiling extension

[Mormolyce]

Republicans Left Reeling After Deal Between Trump and Democrats

WASHINGTON — Republicans were left fuming at a deal struck Wednesday between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders that combines disaster aid for Hurricane Harvey victims with measures to keep the government open and extend the debt ceiling for three more months.

The agreement occurred during a late-morning Oval Office meeting between Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. During the meeting, Trump sided with the Democrats, agreeing to their demands for a short-term extension of government funding and the debt limit and rejecting Republicans’ efforts to seek a longer-term debt ceiling hike.

It was a blow to GOP plans to avoid a series of politically treacherous votes for their members, or at least provide cover for them by attaching it to the disaster relief bill.

By agreeing to the three-month extensions, the GOP-controlled Congress would be forced to revisit both the debt ceiling and government spending extensions in December. And it increases the pressure on Republicans to pass yet more extensions to both, or face the prospect of the U.S. defaulting on its bills or a government shutdown just weeks before Christmas.

Democrats praised the deal, which was reached just before the House overwhelmingly passed $7.85 billion in disaster relief with nothing else attached.

“It was a really good moment of some bipartisanship and getting things done,” Schumer told reporters.

But it leaves rank-and-file Republicans befuddled and with few good choices. Opposition to increasing the nation's debt ceiling has become a matter of principle for many conservatives who say that this deal is worse than any they could have imagined because it forces them to vote on it twice in three months.

“The Pelosi-Schumer-Trump deal is bad,” said Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., in a short, terse statement.

McConnell told reporters it was the president’s decision and that GOP leadership will move forward with it.

“The President can speak for himself, but his feeling was that we needed to come together to not create a picture of divisiveness at a time of genuine national crisis and that was the rationale,” McConnell told reporters.

Still, it was a stunning turn of events.

Wednesday morning began with Pelosi and Schumer issuing their demand that the debt limit be increased for just three months as part of the hurricane relief bill. Ryan called the idea “ridiculous and disgraceful,” adding that Democrats “want to play politics with the debt ceiling.”

n hour later, the four leaders met with Trump. Republicans entered the meeting proposing an 18-month increase to the debt limit, which would put the issue aside until after the midterm elections. Trump rejected that and so Republicans floated six months. But Pelosi and Schumer stuck to their three-month demand.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who was also present, argued in favor of a longer-term debt limit extension, but the president cut him off and sided with the Democrats, multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting said.

In an unexpected turn of events, Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and adviser, came into the room to say hello toward the end of the meeting, which derailed the conversation and left the Republicans visibly annoyed, a Democratic aide briefed on the meeting said.

AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, called that characterization of Republican reaction "false." And a White House aide said that Trump invited his daughter in to talk about her child-tax credit proposal, that she stayed on-topic and that it was “not an issue.”

Back on Capitol Hill, there was a mixture of resignation and outrage.

At the weekly lunch for Senate Republicans, McConnell, joined by White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and Vice President Mike Pence, laid out the deal reached with Democratic leaders.

When asked if they were surprised at the deal that was made, some senators appeared unfazed.

“Nothing shocks me around here,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.

“Am I surprised? Not really,” said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

Still, senators were left unsure of how they’d vote on the deal, even though it includes nearly $8 billion in immediate relief for Harvey victims.

“We are literally funding this government on 90-day notes. That is not the way to fund the largest, most relevant entity in the world,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.

He said that he’s likely to vote for it because of the desperate need of people in Texas, adding, “patience is wearing thin on short-term funding of this government.”

Some Republicans, however, fumed. During a lunch of the conservative Republican Study Committee, members unanimously voiced their opposition to the deal, an aide said.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said Republican leaders didn’t go into the talks with a good enough proposal.

“You've got to give the president conservative options," Meadows said. "There was not a conservative option on the table. It was either a clean debt ceiling or this deal. And when we look at that you can’t criticize somebody when there’s not a conservative proposal that’s put forth."

Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, said Mnuchin and Republican leaders have been pushing for a way to find the easiest path to pass a debt ceiling with no reforms attached.

“They’ve been trolling along looking for something to attach it to,” Walker said of Republican leaders. “To use the pain and suffering of the people of Texas to me is offensive."

PTrump praised the deal aboard Air Force One on his way to North Dakota for a speech on tax reform. But he said he had a very good meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, and didn’t even mention the leaders of his party — McConnell and Ryan.

He also said that the debt ceiling must always be lifted without question, a position not held by most Republicans, who in recent years have turned it into a lever to achieve their policy goals of budget cuts.

“We had a very good meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer," Trump said. "We agreed to a three-month extension on debt ceiling, which they consider to be sacred — very important — always we’ll agree on debt ceiling automatically because of the importance of it."

The deal, however, just pushes the threat of a government shutdown to December.

“Merry Christmas,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...ocrats-n799326

So much for using the Harvey funds as a way of removing Democrat leverage on the debt ceiling.

[Adam Jensen]

But it leaves rank-and-file Republicans befuddled and with few good choices. Opposition to increasing the nation's debt ceiling has become a matter of principle for many conservatives who say that this deal is worse than any they could have imagined because it forces them to vote on it twice in three months.

What? They'll have to stop playing games and actually DO something?

Good on Trump for reaching across the aisle . . . for once. I guess he does occasionally do the right thing.

[Breccia]

I do like the "nothing surprises me anymore" line. Not everyone agrees.

Related: Guess who's coming to dinner?

Trump to dine with Paul Ryan Thursday

President Trump is expected to have dinner with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) on Thursday, according to the White House's daily press guidance.

The dinner comes a day after Trump agreed to support a Democratic goal of raising the debt ceiling, a deal Ryan previously criticized.

On Wednesday morning, the Speaker had dismissed the parameters of the Democratic proposal as “ridiculous” and “disgraceful,” only to see the president endorse them a few hours later.

So what do you serve the man whose help you need to pass your agenda, yet whose agenda you publicly castrate? I'm thinking overcooked steak. With ketchup.

[Xyonai]

Bold move, Cotton. Let's see how this plays out.

[fengosa]

I'm still skeptical of Trump in general but getting rid of Bannon and making sane decisions is a small step in the right direction after everything that's gone wrong so far. It may not even be possible to salvage his presidency depending on what is found with the Mueller investigation but at least he hasn't completely shit the bed on this one.

[fengosa]

This seemed interesting. Not going against Trump but rather calling Ryan and McConnel incompetent.

Yeah he's not happy with them at all apparently. This might be a bit of a middle finger to them.

[minteK917]

Well I am not from the US but if I remember correctly he is the leader of the Freedom Caucus? Makes sense he would never be happy with anyone, his group is fairly fringe.

It's amazing how the US is still in a two party system when the Democrats should split in two parties, the Republicans in three and their leftovers combine in the middle.

that would mean the possibility of good leadership cant have that.

[NYC17]

I do like the "nothing surprises me anymore" line. Not everyone agrees.

Related: Guess who's coming to dinner?

Trump to dine with Paul Ryan Thursday



So what do you serve the man whose help you need to pass your agenda, yet whose agenda you publicly castrate? I'm thinking overcooked steak. With ketchup.

Ice cream.

Only one scoop for him though.

[CostinR]

So what do you serve the man whose help you need to pass your agenda, yet whose agenda you publicly castrate? I'm thinking overcooked steak. With ketchup.

The Republicans need Trump far more then he needs them. Outside of the wall and judicial/political appointees everything Trump wants to achieve is far better served by an alliance with the Democrats then Republicans on Healthcare, Taxes and Infrastructure.

Let alone, you know...FUNDING THE FUCKING GOVERNMENT DURING TWO HISTORIC NATIONAL DISASTERS AND A MODERN CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

This seemed interesting. Not going against Trump but rather calling Ryan and McConnel incompetent.

Ryan has an approval rating among Republicans of less then 40%. Trump has an approval rating of close to 90% and it's likely to improve overall among all voters given the solid management during the hurricanes.

Meadows is not politically suicidal enough to pick a fight with Trump given that he's from a district where Trump is overwhelmingly popular. Every single person that has tried that has lost or will lose. Just ask Jeff Flake on how he's doing in Arizona.

[Deleted]

AND A MODERN CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

Hyperbolic Time Chamber much?

[Orange Joe]

AND A MODERN CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

Shows how much you know of the real Cuban Missile Crisis. Lets leave hyperbole out of this shall we?

[paralleluniverse]

Well, Trump does it, so it must be good. Right, Deplorables? Yep!

[Arvei]

Well, Trump does it, so it must be good. Right, Deplorables? Yep!

I can't believe Trump did this!! What a RINO cuck!!

[-Nurot]

Well, Trump does it, so it must be good. Right, Deplorables? Yep!

Actually Fox News was spinning this yesterday as it being all Donald's doing. They were throwing around phrases like, (Schumer is the largest partisan hack ever) (The Art of the deal) (Trump is the best deal maker, now he can focus on taxes) (So considerate he probably didn't want the debt ceiling looming with Irma on its way)

So yes because Donald did this the Deplorables will think it's good and give him full credit while insulting the Democrats.

[Toogoodman]

This seemed interesting. Not going against Trump but rather calling Ryan and McConnel incompetent.

they are complete wastes, they literally do nothing, and push that onto the POTUS. The republicans in congress have literally done nothing for years, and continue to do nothing

[Mormolyce]

This seemed interesting. Not going against Trump but rather calling Ryan and McConnel incompetent.

There's a reason why there was no such proposal on the table, and it's not because Ryan and McConnell aren't conservative enough...

In all honesty the idea that you are going to fund defense and provide adequate disaster relief and still have tax cuts is inane. The GOP is very much likely NOT to get their tax cuts and at the end of the day, that is the only item in their agenda that actually matters to them.

Don't forget reducing the budget deficit at the same time, using $2 trillion that's simultaneously paying for said tax cuts.

It's so easy to balance the books when you count twice!

they are complete wastes, they literally do nothing, and push that onto the POTUS. The republicans in congress have literally done nothing for years, and continue to do nothing

Turns out it's hard to stop being the party of No, even when you're saying No to yourself.

[Poopymonster]

Ice cream.

Only one scoop for him though.

and no whipped cream. That's only for good boys.

[paralleluniverse]

Actually Fox News was spinning this yesterday as it being all Donald's doing. They were throwing around phrases like, (Schumer is the largest partisan hack ever) (The Art of the deal) (Trump is the best deal maker, now he can focus on taxes) (So considerate he probably didn't want the debt ceiling looming with Irma on its way)

So yes because Donald did this the Deplorables will think it's good and give him full credit while insulting the Democrats.

"Trump is the best deal maker, now he can focus on taxes".

LOL. No.

There is no choice but to raise the debt ceiling. The deadline was later this month. It had to be done. GOP wanted a 18 month extension so the issue can be dealt with until after the midterms. Dems gave them 3 months!

So they will need to keep revisiting this issue over and over. It won't give GOP time for their tax cuts for the rich. Instead it will waste their time, continually.

It's a brilliant move from Pelosi and Schumer to run out the clock on Trump.

[-Nurot]

"Trump is the best deal maker, now he can focus on taxes".

LOL. No.

There is no choice but to raise the debt ceiling. The deadline was later this month. It had to be done. GOP wanted a 18 month extension so the issue can be dealt with until after the midterms. Dems gave them 3 months!

So they will need to keep revisiting this issue over and over. It won't give GOP time for their tax cuts for the rich. Instead it will waste their time, continually.

It's a brilliant move from Pelosi and Schumer to run out the clock on Trump.

Oh, I absolutely agree. I actually found some of it from the morning Fox and Friends show-

STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): It was a political explosion yesterday. The president of the United States, a Republican, made a deal with the Democrats. That's the headline. The president overruled his Treasury secretary, and the congressional leadership on the Republican side, who wanted a debt ceiling increase, and to fund the government, and to get $8 billion for [Hurricane] Harvey. They wanted it to go -- the [debt] limit to go past next year's midterm elections.

PETE HEGSETH (CO-HOST): Democrats, they want to kick it all the way down.

DOOCY: Democrats just wanted three months. And you know what? The president, not wanting a fight, apparently said, "That's the deal I'm going to take right now because we've got tax reform and other stuff we have got to do right now. "

AINSLEY EARHARDT (CO-HOST): Good for him. He's doing this for the folks that are affected by [Hurricane] Harvey. I remember, originally, he said he was going to give it was like $5.95 billion to the folks in Texas. And then we had I think [New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on the couch and -- or some -- one leader or another governor who said, "That's not enough money. He needs to give more." Now he's giving $8 billion to help those families and it's great.

HEGSETH: Well some conservatives are upset because they want --

DOOCY: Big time.

HEGSETH: Big time. But you know what? This is a clear shot at [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell and [Speaker of the House] Paul Ryan: "Hey guys, if you can't get things done, then, listen, I'll go work with the Democrats" --

DOOCY: Sure.

HEGSETH: -- "and I'll work with the things like raising the debt ceiling, and the continuing resolution to fund the government, and [Hurricane] Irma." Listen, Democrats are always happy to spend your money. And they're always happy to raise your debt ceiling and do those types of things. So they're happy to come to the table. But I think it's very strategic from this president. Clear out the underbrush of the stuff that could be contentious, that Washington likes to fight about, so you can clear the deck to fight for the stuff that really matters. Now he's got real leverage with DACA on the Wall, which he really, really wants, and tax reform, and maybe one more shot at repeal and replace Obamacare. That's what the president really wants. Get the other stuff out of there.

EARHARDT: Isn't it refreshing to see them work together though?

HEGSETH: I don't -- I think it's -- they're using each other at this moment.

EARHARDT: Absolutely, but isn't that the art of the deal? Isn't that what they do?

DOOCY: It's the art of the Dems.

It was like that all day long over there. Some of the later in the day commentators really made out with Trump smelling like a rose.

[Breccia]

The Republicans need Trump far more then he needs them. Outside of the wall and judicial/political appointees everything Trump wants to achieve is far better served by an alliance with the Democrats then Republicans on Healthcare, Taxes and Infrastructure.

You're not honestly suggesting Trump wants to work with the Democratic Party to get tax cuts for the rich? Because that's not happening.

Trump has an approval rating of close to 90%

It's closer to 75%.

Meadows is not politically suicidal enough to pick a fight with Trump given that he's from a district where Trump is overwhelmingly popular. Every single person that has tried that has lost or will lose. Just ask Jeff Flake on how he's doing in Arizona.

How's the Moore-Strange fight going?

- - - Updated - - -

Ryan is now defending the deal he called "ridiculous".

Ryan explains Trump deal: President didn't want 'food fight'

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that President Trump agreed to a stunning short-term deal with Democrats on Hurricane Harvey aid, the debt limit and government funding because he didn't want a "food fight" and wanted to instead show bipartisanship.

When the moderator at a New York Times-hosted event asked Ryan how the deal came about and how he felt about it, the Speaker sighed and took a moment to gather his thoughts before explaining that he believes the president made the agreement with Democrats in order to avoid partisan fighting.

Hahahahahahahaha

*deep breath*

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Trump wanted a “bipartisan response and not a food fight” on the timing of the debt limit, Ryan said.

Ryan added that the president wanted a “bipartisan moment in response to these hurricanes."

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas last month, killing dozens and leaving massive flooding in its wake. Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm raging through the Caribbean, is threatening South Florida.

Trump on Wednesday shocked Republicans by striking an agreement with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to link Harvey aid with three-month extensions of the debt limit and federal government funding.

Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had sought a longer extension of the debt limit, which is typically a tough vote for GOP lawmakers.

Shortly before Trump met with congressional leaders on Wednesday, Ryan criticized Democrats' proposal for a three-month debt-limit suspension, saying it was "ridiculous."

On Thursday, Ryan said that he thinks it would be better for credit markets to have longer-term debt-limit extensions.

He also expressed confidence that Trump would work well with Republicans in Congress on tax reform.

"On tax reform, he's very, very, engaged," the Speaker said.

The idea that Trump wanted a bipartisan deal when it comes to Harvey relief is 100% spin. The House bill already passed 419-3. It was already bipartisan.

And, as other news organizations have posted, siding with the Democrats on 3 months not 18 isn't bipartisan, it's caving. Call Schumer and/or Pelosi "brilliant" if you want, but this was a bold-faced bluff, and it worked. Maybe this frees up time to work on the still hefty remaining agenda, but it's a lot like making your electric bill because you sold your car.