Democrats Block 2018 Budget, Gain Another Month to Push …
Late Tuesday, the GOP gave up on 2018 budget talks and drafted a new temporarybudget plan, dubbed a Continuing Resolution, which would keep the governmentopen for another month until February 16. That date will mark almost five months after the 2018 budget was slated to begin October 1.
If the CR passes the House and Senate, the GOP and the Democrats will get another month to develop a 2018 budget while Democrats gain another month to wear down GOP and Trump opposition to their amnesty-plus plan.
The amnesty talks are being overseen by the four deputy leaders of the Senate and House , including GOP Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Democrats negotiations tactics include emotional public claims of racism, televised sob stories from migrants, skewed polls, as well as intense back-room lobbying by illegal immigrants, open-borders advocates and by the CEOs whose stock-options would be reduced if a shortage of labor drives up wages.
If the amnesty does get approved by an exhausted Trump and GOP, it would wreck Trumps Buy American, Hire American presidency, 2018 turnout and his reelection. The approval would prove that Democrats, the establishment media,and business lobbies have the political power to simply raise the supply of cheap imported labor whenever companies are forced to pay higher wages to Americans, regardless of Trumps stunning victory in 2016.
If the Democrats amnesty push is foiled, then voters will be able to decide in November if they want a Congress to reduce or raise the immigration which has helped freeze Americans wages since 2000.
The GOPs short-term CR plan may get a vote in the House on Thursday, leaving the Senate little time to accept the plan by Friday night, after which the government starts closing down many non-essential functions.
Democratic leaders suggest they are willing to oppose a short-term budget and to force a government shutdown. For example, the House Democrats deputy leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer, told reporters on Tuesday:
We want to keep the government open. But I will repeat, were not going to be held hostage to do things that we think are contrary to the best interests of the American people because we will do the right thing and [Republicans] dont care.
House Democrats will not block the CR, predicted Virginia Rep. Dave Brat.I dont think anybody has any appetite for a shutdown the Democrats dont want to go there . the Democrats polling looks terrible for them, he said.
Democrats can block any budget because their minority of 49 votes in the Senate is enough to prevent passage of any budget through the Senate.
House GOP leaders have tried to win some Senate Democratic votes for the short-term plan by including several Democratic spending priorities, including a six-year extension of the CHIP health-care program for children.
GOP leaders may also need Democratic votes in the House because the GOPs defense-industry members threatened to vote against the leaders budget because it does not guarantee a big increase in defense spending for the rest of the year. The extra defense money is not in the budget because Democratic leaders are demanding that any defense increase is accompanied by a similar increase in non-defense spending.
In response, some of the budget hawks suggested they will approve giveaway-amnesty in exchange for a defense increase. Frankly, I think its not that hard to get a DACA deal, but the question is do [Capitol Hill leaders] want to? Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters.
GOP leaders have tried to separate the amnesty fight from the budget, partly because any separation would minimize Democratic leverage in the dispute.
But Democrats are keeping the two issues linked by claiming that the budget dispute is about several spending priorities while also all saying those budget issues could be solved if the GOP surrenders on the amnesty.For example, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who is facing election in November, is trying to portray himself as a Trump ally while he blocks a budget deal by demanding extra funding for health care centers. Politico reported:
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) also declined to commit to voting for a stopgap spending bill this week that didnt address his key priorities, citing community health centers rather than DACA. Any funding bill has to have those priorities included, he told reporters.
The Democrats hide-the-amnestystrategy is acknowledged by a variety of pro-amnesty advocates and makes political sense because polls show the public strongly opposes wage-cutting mass immigration. According to CNN:
If Democrats stay united on all issues, and (DACA) doesnt get isolated the way it was in December, then theres a better chance that Democrats have leverage to compel the kind of negotiations that might produce a deal in time, Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice Education Fund, a pro-immigration reform group, told reporters
Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia said he would reject any characterization of Democrats shutting down the government over DACA or anything else, saying it was essential for Democrats to stay united and keep all their issues together.
Right now, theres a lot of linkage with a lot of issues, and Democrats are doing, I think, the right thing in highlighting the unfinished business and the linkages, right? Connolly said, citing childrens health insurance, veterans benefits, surveillance reform and DACA. And youve got to use all the leverage youve got while youve got it.
The Senate GOPs deputy leader, Sen. John Cornyn, however, says the Democrats are holding up the budget to win the amnesty. Democrats are holding [a budget] deal hostage for a DACA negotiation, he said Monday.
Aided by favorable media, Democrats in the Senate are playing so tough that they plan to formally introduce their amnesty-plus plan on Wednesday.
That amnesty-plus has already been rejected by Trump on January 11 in a meeting where Trump opposed migration quotas from shithole countries. Since then, Democrats have repeatedly claimed that Trump can partially expiate his sins by endorsing their amnesty.Extortion would be a good word for it, probably better than blackmail it seems, said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations at NumbersUSA.com. She continued:
PresidentTrump is the is only one who is focused on how do we bring people back into the labor market hereare these Democrats saying youre a racist if you dont do what we say which will actually hurt poor Americans, including African-Americans
Trump and some GOP immigration experts oppose the Democrats amnesty-plus because it offers only token changes to the visa lottery program and to the chain-migration rules, and only offers one years worth of wall-building money.
The version of the amnesty-plus plan slated for announcement on Wednesday does not seem to include any additional proposals to meet Trumps election-winning, poll-approved immigration priorities.
The amnesty-plus plan would cover roughly 3 million youngerillegals, plus millions of their parents, plus roughly 400,000 Temporary Protected Status migrants, plus millions of their future chain-migration relatives.
GOP leaders are formally opposing the amnesty but are doing very little to alert thepublic to the Democrats wage-cutting amnesty. For example, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell denounced the amnesty push as unneeded pending a court battle which has restarted the DACA amnesty but has declined to make any emotional or wage-related PR argument against the Dmeocrats amnesty.
Similarly, the GOP leadership in the House has done nothing to promote the combined reform-and-amnesty plan developed by judiciary chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte.
On Tuesday, House members at a caucus meeting pressed their leadership to push the Goodlatte bill through the House.They were nodding yes in conference today, but they have not given any firm commitment, said Brat. He continued:
Goodlatte stood up and spoke, [Rep. Raul] Labrador spoke at the caucus meeting. That bill has widespread support We think we can get all Republican votes, 218, for real They needtosupport it, whip it, and push it.
[Polls show] we have the leverage now, and want to see our leadership take command, not only with the Democrats but with the Senate. It is time for them to take some votes, not us, as always.
In 2014, House and Senate GOP leaders adopted a strategy of failure theater to disguise their unwillingness to oppose former President Barack Obamas DAPA amnesty for several million illegal-immigrant parents of native-born children. In a series of step-by-step retreats, GOP leaders wentfrom arguing in November 2014 they would fight the amnesty tooth and nail to shrugging their shoulders in March 2015.
Without GOP backup, Trump will come under greater pressure from the media and the Democrats to surrender the amnesty in exchange for some wall-construction funds but without any legal changes to prevent people using legal loopholes in the wall, and without any changes to chain-migration and the visa lottery.
If Trump keeps his policies firm, however, the GOP will be able to use the Democrats pro-immigration, anti-American behavior to win more seats in Congress in the 2018 election.
The Democratic base is rewarding that kind of [pro-amnesty] behavior, said Brat. I think the country will differ when they get the chance to vote on the Democrats refusal to develop popular policies on health care, the economy, and immigration, he added.
Polls show thatTrumps American-first immigration policyis very popular. For example, a Decemberpollof likely 2018 voters shows two-to-one voter support for Trumps pro-American immigration policies, and a lopsided four-to-one opposition against the cheap-labor, mass-immigration, economic policy pushed by bipartisan establishment-backed D.C. interest-groups.
Business groups and Democrats tout the misleading, industry-funded Nation of Immigrants polls which pressure Americans to say they welcome migrants, including the roughly 670,000 DACA illegals and the roughly 3.25 million dreamer illegals.
Read the original:
Democrats Block 2018 Budget, Gain Another Month to Push ...
- Opinion | Democrats need to talk about the word genocide - MS NOW - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Who Democrats selected to replace former NC Sen. Graig Meyer in General Assembly - Raleigh News & Observer - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Democrats pay visit to ICE detention facility where abuse claims are rife - The Guardian - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Trump plan to shift student loan oversight to Treasury draws Senate Democrats' backlash - Government Executive - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- New poll comes with alarm bells for Democrats ahead of Virginia redistricting vote - politico.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Meet the woman who wants Democrats to get hot, not bothered - USA Today - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Democrats must step up to fix public education in NC | Opinion - Wilmington Star-News - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Local Democrats lean into claims Husted is out of touch with real world - Toledo Blade - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear set to headline Colorado Democrats annual fundraising dinner - Denver Gazette - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Opinion | Democrats vs. the Freedom Foundation - wsj.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- In rural Virginia, excitement and dread grows over Democrats redistricting referendum - MyNorthwest.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Democrats are so far the only major party with a ballot-qualified candidate in the U.S. Senate general election in New Mexico - Ballotpedia News - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Contributor: What can Democrats stand for when there's no Trump to stand against? - Los Angeles Times - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Tom Homan: Democrats don't want to reform ICE they want to handcuff it - Fox News - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Maine Democrats flip their votes to put far-reaching data privacy bill in doubt - WGME - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- New Hampshire Democrats prepare to make case for first-in-the-nation primary status - WMUR - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- For many Democrats, Bondis and Noems firings were a key step but not the last - MS NOW - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- North Carolinas Electoral Future May Hinge on Rural Black Voters Who Feel Ignored by Democrats - Chapelboro.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ohio is too expensive. Ohio House Democrats plan to introduce series of affordability bills - Ohio Capital Journal - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- GOP infighting, Democrats' unmet demands and a CLEAR windfall: Who's winning and losing the DHS shutdown - Fox News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Schumer had a plan to win back the Senate, but some Democrats aren't on board - PBS - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Some Oregon Democrats get an unlikely primary foe: Their partys top boosters - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats are starting to like congressional Democrats again - YouGov - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Texas Democrats are pooling resources, holding joint rallies in latest effort to win the November midterms - CBS News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Anti-regulation Democrats? Top takeaways from the governors race forum in Fresno - latimes.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats Probe Into Noem, Lewandowski, Hones in on Pro-Trump Donors Contracts - NOTUS News of the United States - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Thursdays Campaign Round-Up, 4.2.26: Democrats sue to block Trumps order on mail ballots - MS NOW - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats be warned: Trump knows your weak spots - miningjournal.net - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats Start to Hammer Vulnerable Republicans Over War in Iran in Ads - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Q&A: The Strategy Behind Democrats Recent Mayoral Wins - campaignsandelections.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats flipped another GOP seat but not for the reason youd think - MS NOW - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- No Kings in America, Real Resistance in Rome - How Liberal Democrats and AIPAC Allies Hijacked the Movement While Italy Actually Fights Empire and... - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- The Republican Fundraising Advantage Keeping Democrats Up at Night - NOTUS News of the United States - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Whatever happened to North Carolina Democrats? - springhopeenterprise.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Democrats dont like Donald Trump or other Dems, polling shows: Bottom has fallen out - PennLive.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Election 2026: Six Democrats on May ballot vying to face Rep. Turner in November - Dayton Daily News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Not just the base: Democrats in recent elections are flipping independent and Republican votes - CNN - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats and voting rights advocates vow to fight Trumps latest order: massive and unconstitutional suppression effort as it happened - The Guardian - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Kornacki analyzes what it will take for Democrats to win back the Senate - NBC News - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Why Democrats still face an uphill climb to win the Senate: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Senate Democrats are Breaking All the Wrong Records - House Committee on Appropriations (.gov) - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Political stunt: Democrats scold DeSantis over $5.5M cost to rename Palm Beach airport after Trump - WLRN - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- President Trump Acts Where Democrats Refused Bringing Relief to TSA Workers and Travelers - The White House (.gov) - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Trumps overtime tax break is a hit. Democrats arent sure what to do about it. - Politico - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats think taxing the rich will create affordability | Letter - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Cory Booker says Democrats have failed this moment and calls for new leaders - The Guardian - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Andy Beshear Thinks Democrats Should Start Talking Like People - Politico - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Why Democrats Are Accusing the FBI of Trying to Smear Rep. Eric Swalwell - Time Magazine - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- CT Democrats push forward spending increase for $28.8B state budget that boosts education, services and more - Hartford Courant - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Schumer had a plan to win back the Senate. But some Democrats arent on board - Los Angeles Times - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats look to win Southern Az legislative races in bid to flip statehouse - Tucson Sentinel - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats take a page from the GOP playbook with new partisan voter registration program - azmirror.com - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats flipped another GOP seat. The reason isnt what you think. - Yahoo - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats win another special election, the 30th red-to-blue flip of Trumps second term - Yahoo - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- The Trump-voting pastor Democrats think could cost them a chance at a Nebraska Senate seat - CNN - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Democrats are trying to connect the dots on Trumps 2026 plan - CNN - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- Four Democrats face off for open Metro Council seat. Who are they? - The Courier-Journal - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- NY Democrats to blow state budget deadline again with little progress on talks: At the beginning of the middle - New York Post - April 1st, 2026 [April 1st, 2026]
- GOP, Democrats face pressure to end DHS shutdown: Join the live discussion - The Hill - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Fetterman urges fellow Democrats to 'do the right thing' as government shutdown takes toll on workers - Fox News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Hoping to unseat Collins, Maine Democrats battle it out in an expensive U.S. Senate primary - NPR - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Homeland Security Talks Hit Snag as Democrats Demand ICE Restrictions - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- DHS funding deal on shaky ground as Trump and Democrats both decline to embrace it - NPR - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Democrats face test as rare Ethics hearing examines Cherfilus-McCormick fraud allegations - The Hill - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Democrats look to boost offshore well cleanups - E&E News by POLITICO - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Democrats Have Fundraising Edge in Virginia Redistricting Battle Ahead of April Referendum - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Florida Democrats flipped two legislative seats in 2026 special election, their best performance in years - CBS News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Florida Democrats flipped 2 legislative seats Tuesday. Is it a harbinger of trouble for the long dominant GOP? - Florida Politics - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Vast majorities of Democrats and Republicans are concerned about technology's effect on misinformation and personal privacy - YouGov - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Cory Booker wants Democrats to 'Stand' and fight - NPR - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Democrats revive allegations around Trump classified document case in latest political battle with Justice Department - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Missouri Democrats' efforts to restore child care subsidy funding thwarted in the House - KCUR - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Blakeman thought his matching funds were secure, then Democrats objected - Newsday - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- FEMA official who has claimed to be teleported is unfit for role, Democrats say - Mississippi Today - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Scalise on DHS Shutdown: It is a Disgrace What Democrats are Doing to Hardworking Families - Congressman Steve Scalise (.gov) - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- How Democrats win on foreign policy The US is drifting Leftward on Israel and Iran - UnHerd - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Seethe as DHS Talks Derail After Democrats Retread Their Offer - News of the United States - NOTUS - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Wheels Up for Senate Democrats Who Leave TSA and Americans Grounded - House Committee on Appropriations (.gov) - March 15th, 2026 [March 15th, 2026]
- Opinion | The Democrats Could Still Mess This Up - The New York Times - March 15th, 2026 [March 15th, 2026]
- Democrats set a turnout record in Texas, so is this the year it turns blue? - NPR - March 15th, 2026 [March 15th, 2026]