Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) cannot support a border wall that isn’t paid for.
Despite some indications that Republican leaders may give President Donald Trump a multi-billion dollar border wall without offsets, Risch – a key fiscal conservative – says he’s not on board.
“I vote for things that are offset,” Risch said. “I’m a strong believer in offsetting whatever it is you’re going to spend money on. The government today borrows one and a quarter million dollars a day and that can’t go on so it needs to be offset.”
Risch’s position isn’t that different from many Republicans during Barack Obama’s presidency, but since Trump has come into office some Republicans –including House Speaker Paul Ryan – haven’t closed the door on allowing Trump to get his border wall without offsets.
Risch called himself the “low water mark” on the issue of offsetting, arguing that he may be less flexible on the issue than other members, but Risch’s voice and position could be key when the Trump administration asks for money for the wall from Congress. Republicans only have 52 votes in the Senate. If three of them oppose legislation and Democrats vote against a border wall, Risch’s vote could be consequential.
At this point anyone who is willing to publicly question T-rumpus’ policies on any grounds, let alone a Republican on reasonable grounds, is a hero to me.
And I respect the point that “off setting” is not likely going to go in any way I would like. Baby steps.
Step 1: stand up for the right of anyone to have a different opinion than the administration’s kool-aid du jour.
I feel like I should add some huge disclaimer here. I think we are in such a warped environment right now that ANY pushback on a Trump plan is good… this is an administration that does not want any sort of reality (i.e. a budget concern) raining on it’s parade and is likely to whack into submission anyone who doesn’t jump on board and cheer with each new mandate.
Don’t mean to say “go wall” or “go funding for wall”.
Yeah, we NEED to offset the cost of the border wall by stealing tax dollars from hard-working families.
Excellent policy.
Pathetic!
Since the border wall will keep us so much safer and secure, I suppose the offsets Risch is talking about will come from the military and homeland security budgets. He wouldn’t possibly suggest cuts from social safety net programs. Right?
If only there was slave labor in the U.S. Then Micturition Man could build “a big, big wall, 45-feet high, 45-feet is a good size, a beautiful wall with a beautiful door in it” for free. If only …
Damn! Shave that guy’s head and he’d look just like he came from Beneath the Planet of the Apes!
https://res.cloudinary.com/tpm/image/upload/c_fill,fl_keep_iptc,g_face,w_994,h_550/yf9bbbcx94q2twanjfj0.jpg