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U.S. NEWS Monday 4 SepteMber 2017
Mnuchin: Congress must tie Harvey aid to raising debt limit

By HOPE YEN vey aid was Trump’s “first
Associated Press objective right now.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump’s aid request would
Treasury Secretary Steven add $7.4 billion to dwin-
Mnuchin on Sunday called dling Federal Emergency
on Congress to combine Management Agency di-
a $7.9 billion disaster relief saster aid coffers and $450
package for Harvey with million to finance disaster
an increase in the nation’s loans for small businesses.
borrowing limit, saying it An additional $5 billion to
was time to “put politics $8 billion for Harvey could
aside” so storm victims in be tucked into a catch-
Texas can get the help all spending bill Congress
they need. “The president must pass in the coming
and I believe that it should weeks to fund the govern-
be tied to the Harvey fund- ment past Sept. 30.
ing. Our first priority is to On Sunday, Texas Gov.
make sure that the state Greg Abbott described the
gets money,” he said. “It is federal aid package as
critical, and to do that, we an important initial “down
need to make sure we raise payment” on Harvey relief
the debt limit.” President that he expects will come
Donald Trump visited storm- to $150 billion to $180 bil-
ravaged areas in Texas on In this Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 photo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during a news lion. “We need Congress
Saturday, expressing hope briefing at the White House in Washington. Mnuchin is calling on Congress to combine a $7.9 to step up and pass this
for speedy congressional billion disaster relief package for Hurricane Harvey with a contentious increase in the nation’s and help Texas rebuild,” he
action on relief aid. But debt limit. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) said.q
some House conservatives lion borrowing limit by Sept.
have said directly pairing 29 to avoid a catastrophic
it with an increase in the default on the debt, al-
debt limit would be a “ter- lowing the government to
rible idea” that sends the continue borrowing money
wrong message on overall to pay bills like Social Se-
government spending. curity and interest. But on
Trump plans to meet with Sunday, he said that dead-
congressional leaders from line had moved up due to
both parties this week as unexpected new spending
lawmakers return to Wash- on Harvey. “Without raising
ington after their summer the debt limit, I’m not com-
recess. The government’s fortable that we would get
cash reserves are running the money that we need
low because the debt limit this month to Texas to re-
has actually already been build,” Mnuchin said.
reached, and the Treasury Asked about Trump’s past
Department is using vari- threats to force a govern-
ous accounting measures ment shutdown if Congress
to cover expenses. does not also include his
Mnuchin originally had $1.6 billion request for a
said that Congress would wall on the U.S.-Mexico
need to raise the $19.9 tril- border, Mnuchin said Har-

Top House Democrat: ‘Past time’

to subpoena Comey documents

WASHINGTON (AP) — The The Associated Press last
top Democrat on the week reported that special
House Intelligence Com- counsel Robert Mueller’s in-
mittee says it may be “past vestigators were in posses-
time” to subpoena the sion of Trump’s draft letter.
White House after his panel Schiff says his panel should
was not provided a draft get a copy.
letter by President Donald The California Democrat
Trump on reasons for firing also says he expects Trump
FBI Director James Comey. attorney Michael Cohen
Congressman Adam Schiff and a Russia-born asso-
tells CNN that his com- ciate, Felix Sater, to tes-
mittee had requested rel- tify before the panel. Last
evant White House docu- week, Cohen confirmed
ments addressing conver- Trump’s company pursued
sations with Comey, but a project with Sater in Mos-
that officials claimed none cow during the Republican
existed. primary.q