May 28, 2019

*-- Trump, Senate agree to $19.1B disaster relief plan with no border funding --*

The Senate on Thursday reached a deal with President Donald Trump on a $19.1 billion disaster aid bill after the president dropped pressure to include funds to build a border wall.

Senate Republicans held a closed-door meeting with Trump on relief to states recovering from flooding, hurricanes and wildfires.

"Sounds like he will sign off on a clean disaster aid," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said of Trump. "That's the plan ... it's $19.1 billion, just disaster relief. People want to look at it before they vote but sounds to me like where they are headed."

Senate appropriations committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said Trump agreed to a "clean disaster package" without any "border security stuff." He said he spoke with House appropriations committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., about the legislation, though it was unclear whether the chamber has enough votes to pass it.

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*-- More Conservative News, Views & Values --*
Are We on the Ramp to Impeachment Road?
After a stroke felled Woodrow Wilson during his national tour to save his League of Nations, an old rival, Sen. Albert Fall, went to the White House to tell the president, "I have been praying for you, Sir."

To which Wilson is said to have replied, "Which way, Senator?"

Historians are in dispute as to whether Wilson actually said it.

But the acid retort came to mind on hearing that Nancy Pelosi, hours after accusing President Donald Trump of "engaging in a cover-up," a felony, piously volunteered, "I pray for the president of the United States."


Trump asks Congress to end 'unexpected,' 'unjustified' medical bills
President Donald Trump called on Congress Thursday to pass legislation to increase transparency on medical billing and end the practice of what he called expensive "surprise" medical bills.

Trump said he will send up a list of principles that should be included in the proposal, which should hold insurance companies and hospitals accountable when it comes to billing patients.

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The Senate was expected to pass the legislation Thursday afternoon, but the House, which left for Memorial Day recess Thursday, likely won't vote on the measure until June.

"Chairwoman Lowey is pleased that President Trump and Republicans have agreed to bipartisan, comprehensive disaster relief legislation that will meet urgent needs across the country," Lowey's spokesman, Evan Hollander, said in a statement. "If the Senate passes the legislation today, House Democrats support clearing it through the House as soon as possible."

The deal is expected to include $600 million in food stamp money and $300 million in Housing and Urban Development grants for Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

"We Democrats said that Puerto Rico has to be treated fairly and they are," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said. "I suggested this morning that we just do disaster and no border and that's what we're doing and each time the president messes in things get messed up. It's better off letting us just do our work."