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DONALD TRUMP AND US lawmakers inched closer to a deal last night avoiding a government shutdown, as the president, eager to showcase a win marking his first 100 days, retreated from a demand to fund a border wall.
With the government set to exhaust its current funding at midnight Friday, the White House is under the gun to craft a compromise that would keep the government running while not appearing to cave on Trump’s demand that Congress fund a wall on the border with Mexico.
“Hopefully, we’ll reach an agreement some time in the next couple of days,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, but he did not rule out passing a short-term extension that gives lawmakers time to craft a final deal.
While lawmaker said the funding legislation would steer clear of including funding for a border wall, it is expected to cover broader border security measures, such as the use of drones or anti-tunnelling technology.
But a deal remained far from certain.
Among the sticking points is the fate of cost-sharing arrangements that help reduce health insurance costs for low-income Americans buying plans through the Affordable Care Act, the reform implemented by Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama.
Trump had been on a collision course with lawmakers over the wall, demanding that Congress include funding to start construction in its new spending bill.
Democrats blasted the approach, warning that Republicans risked being blamed for shuttering the government barely three months into Trump’s administration.
“There aren’t enough Republican votes to put the wall in” to the spending bill, said veteran Senator Patrick Leahy, top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
With jitters rippling through Washington, Trump apparently agreed to soften his demand days before the deadline.
Optimism
He told a group of conservative journalists he was open to delaying funding for the wall’s construction until September, a White House official said, according to The Washington Post.
By yesterday, the administration was acknowledging Trump’s plan could be pushed back.
“Building that wall and having it funded remains an important priority to him,” advisor Kellyanne Conway told Fox News.
But we also know that that can happen later this year and into next year.
With shutdown fever appearing to break in Washington, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he was “optimistic” about reaching a timely deal, provided Republicans do not include controversial other issues such as defunding Planned Parenthood clinics.
“We’re pleased he’s backing off,” Schumer said of Trump’s funding demand.
Instead of a wall, lawmakers are expressing support for a broader set of border security measures, including using drones and other high technology.
“We’re not opposed to border security,” Schumer said.
“We are opposed to the wall. And we’re not going to allow any dollars in any kind of border security appropriation to be used for a wall. Period.”
Building the wall was Trump’s signature campaign promise, but Democrats note that Trump pledged Mexico would pay for it.
Even as the White House appeared to soften its rigid posture, Trump sent mixed messages.
He tweeted:
The president then insisted the wall would be built “soon,” but offered no time frame other than within his four-year term.
“The wall’s going to get built, folks,” Trump told reporters.
‘Active negotiations’
Congress, returning from a two-week break, now has three days to strike a deal.
Lawmakers have warned that a stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, may be needed to give Congress breathing room to finalise the spending details.
“This is active negotiations,” Republican Senator David Purdue said.
With the 100-day mark landing on Saturday and few legislative victories under his belt, Trump is pressing to fulfill another campaign pledge.
As a candidate, he repeatedly vowed to reform the tax code and slash the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%
An announcement on such reforms is due today.
Conservatives have sought a reduction in tax rates for years, but they are also adamant about reducing the debt. Some Republicans appeared hesitant to embrace such slashes to corporate tax rates.
“Fifteen percent might be too low,” House Republican Leonard Lance told CNN.
Democrats have expressed little appetite for dramatically reducing taxes, especially for big business.
If there are no significant tax breaks for small business or working-class Americans, “that would certainly for me be a non-starter,” Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow said.
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Walk like an Egyptian…. They’ll think you’re bat shit crazy and to much of a liability to try take on
I needed that laugh
Walk like a Pidgeon, chew gum, wear a tracksuit and hold a half can of Stella and nobody will mess with you
Why do northsiders keep pidgeons?………………………………………………so they can teach their kids to walk.
Have to say lads I’m weak laughing
On behalf of Northsiders I’d say that it’s more important to teach kids to spell. Pigeon, for example. Otherwise you’ll end up speaking pidgin English like the Southsiders………
lol …Phil +1
What did the south side guy, say to the north side guy, that was chatting up his girlfriend?
Nothing. He shat himself & went to the “loo”
Why was the northside guy chatting to the southside guy’s girlfriend? Looking for change for a hostel, obviously.
Epic Phil, what a legend!!
A hostel were he would take his girlfreind mark !
Ha, if she’s a proper southside girl she wouldn’t be caught dead in a hostel!
And Irish Judges will let those violent criminals walk away with a six month suspended.
If they’re really unlucky. Community service is real popular too
Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk…
The business executive who violently attacked the cyclist was a real nice fella . not all thugs wear tracksuits .
Psychopaths are the preferred choice for managerial positions in some companies. They get away with it at work but sometimes they forget outside the bubble and many people pray that they’re around when that happens just to even things up for the victim, that’s all, honestly.
I walk on walls, never been mugged
You’ve obviously never met spiderthug? Your day will come
Tiocfaidh ár lá Alan ;-)
People with certain psychopathic traits, not psychopaths. Psychopaths are the one running big business, governments, banks etc. You know the ones? F√¢k everybody types?
I’m a bit like that. Got me a little bit of power in the labour camp, haven’t looked back since
Like Charity CEO’S???
Yeah they’re the feel no remorse types. The kind that can rape, beat, shoot, stab and gouge without feeling a thing.
Psychopaths don’t necessarily rape, beat, shoot, stab or gouge anybody.
I know one or two guys who look run of the mill but I ‘d be a very upset mugger if I tangled with them.
well of course you can tell. You can tell a lot by someone’s demeanour.
I always study a person’s shoes.
That means nothing, there are plenty of cheapskates out there?
People with money sometimes sport the most horrific footwear.
And plenty of cheap skates
You’re also more likely to be chosen as a victim if you look like you wouldn’t fight back. When someone suspicious walks past you always look them in the eye, they’ll pick someone else.
Over 60s should carry a walking stick whether they need it or not, just as effective as the look in the eye
A walking stick would get in my way. Hands free does the most damage when called upon …
Sinead that is very poor advice, looking somebody in the eye who you think is suspicious can be seen as a challenge or interpreted in so many different ways you are inviting trouble, Do NOT interact with potential adversaries, increase your situational awareness stay in control and move away from trouble
Tiny sampling base. Leaves out facts such as females, young, elderly, sick, disabled etc usually being more vulnerable. In fact most crimes are opportunistic committed by young people on other young people. Very little intellectual data analysis is undertaken by the perpetrators on victims or possible outcomes for themselves.
What are “young people”?anyone who is not old?
Keep your head up, always observe your surroundings and keep your arms loose with a 6 or 7 inch gap between the inside of your elbows and your hip. Unlike this article it’s best to walk the walk to avoid any form of violence altogether. Bit stupid of the author to say it’s better to get built than avoid any confrontation altogether. With the violent third worlders flooding into Europe tho it’s probably a good time to get built tho.
Alex Ferguson said there were two things you couldn’t change; The team you support and the way you walk.
I used to support QPR then I supported Man U now I just support ROI or anyirish international and my walk changes with my levels of confidence so he should stick to managing United.
West Ham are my favourite London team, then spurs. Good fans. Especially the Hammers. Witnessed them live at Anfield. Gettin beat 5 nil but still going haywire.
I can judge potential criminals by their smell and their need for a rock of crack
I look for the hunger in the eyes if they are hungry they let you know and the determination in the the walk is a dead give away, the energetic dead look (guant and hyper) is quite mischievous.
I know of a person who 2 fellas thought it be fun to beat up as they saw the man as a simpleton in their view, they waited one night to pounch on him. Turns out they didn’t batter him, that he battered them as he was well up the karate ladder.
If you look vunerable then certain people will see you as a target, as there are some right bad sods out there.
And most aware citizens can spot the violent criminal by their working class features. Their appearance usually suggests low intelligence and if they chance to open their mouth… done deal. If you get really lucky and they produce a pack of Blue when they smoke. Get out of the area fast.
So it’s sort of reverse profiling by criminals on potential victims . . The criminal mind is absolutely narcissistic.
Trust psychopaths to come up with stuff normal people would never think of?
Moonwalk away shouting heeeee heeeeee!
What a load of shite
Now that is a thought, reading a persons walk who has just pooed themselves?
Yes, inferred levels of defiance/compliance and likelihood of success may be naturally determined by the evil that walk among us even at range based on a prospective victims stance, gait, reactionary reciprocal glances or lack/avoidance of, orientation relative to the onlooker, demeanour, manner of making/breaking held eye contact, whether they see hands nervously clutching a handbag or else determinedly clenched in a precautionary fist. We humans wear our fear outwardly in a multitude of ways and any jackal that enjoys a kill will instinctively know his particular prey from amongst the masses. Ted Bundy used to bypass his fellow humans fight or flight and other defensive layers/mechanisms by pretending to be injured, arm in a sling, on crutches etc. A good killer will have you in a place beyond refuge ever before you know you’re soon to be dead.
They wouldn’t have the intelligents.
No sh!t Sherlock!
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