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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 9 September 2017
Deal with Trump, GOP retirements have Dems riding higher

By ALAN FRAM Obama’s health care stat- dential election, including
Associated Press ute and other issues. Reichert and Ros-Lehtinen.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rel- The House sent Trump the Democrats are further
egated for months to play- legislation Friday — which heartened by numerous
ing defense, congressional he quickly signed — with candidates emerging in
Democrats are rising again. the three-month extension districts around the coun-
They’ve been revitalized plus $15 billion in aid for try, and a history of con-
by the deal their leaders victims of Hurricane Har- gressional gains by the
cut with President Donald vey. In the 316-90 result, all party that doesn’t hold the
Trump this week and by a 90 “no” votes came from White House.
trickle of GOP retirements the chamber’s 240 Repub- “They have a president
that have boosted their licans, underscoring the working against them,”
hopes of capturing House likelihood Trump will need said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan
control next year. Democrats in December. of New Mexico, who leads
It’s unlikely the startling “It gives us a possibility for the House Democratic
agreement between passing the Dream Act on campaign organization.
Trump and top Democrats In this Sept. 7, 2017, photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck that bill,” Pelosi told report- Citing Trump’s frequent
on increasing the federal Schumer of N.Y., accompanied by House Minority Leader Nancy ers Friday. clashes with GOP congres-
debt limit, which surprised Pelosi of Calif. speak Capitol Hill in Washington. Congressional That’s a Democratic mea- sional leaders, Lujan said,
and undermined Repub- Democrats are rising again. Since President Donald Trump sure that would chisel le- “I think that has the Trump
licans, augurs an era of entered the White House in January, they’ve been relegated gal safeguards into law base very concerned with
to playing defense and pouncing on Republican missteps.
broad bipartisan coop- But now, they’ve been boosted by a deal their leaders cut for about 800,000 immi- them.”
eration. Trump has shown with President Donald Trump on extending federal borrowing grants brought to the U.S. Pelosi said Trump’s stand-
no clear governing phi- authority for three months. as children and now here ing in public opinion polls
losophy, can abruptly shift (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) illegally. in the next few months
views and still favors poli- Minority Leader Chuck those must-pass issues in GOP congressional lead- will be key to Democratic
cies Democrats abhor like Schumer and House Minor- December, Trump and ers wanted the borrowing hopes next year because
erasing the Obama health ity Leader Nancy Pelosi to GOP leaders will need increase to last beyond that is when office-holders
care law. Many Demo- extend the government’s Democratic votes, open- the 2018 elections, which and challengers make de-
crats find it hard to even borrowing authority and ing the door to possible would have stolen that op- cisions on running.
contemplate working with keep agencies open for Republican concessions portunity from Democrats. The president has been
him. three months gives the on protecting young im- Also feeding the Demo- registering below 40 per-
For now, however, Trump’s Democrats plenty of clout. migrants from deportation, crats’ swagger are retire- cent approval, which is
agreement with Senate When Congress revisits bolstering President Barack ment announcements dismal. Additional GOP
by Republicans in Dem- lawmakers are consider-
ocratic-leaning or swing ing retirement, and those
House districts. Departing numbers may grow if the
Republicans include Reps. Republican drive to cut
Charlie Dent of Pennsyl- taxes hits roadblocks in
vania, Washington’s Dave Congress, said three party
Reichert and Florida’s Il- consultants. The opera-
eana Ros-Lehtinen. tives, who spoke on condi-
Democrats must gain 24 tion of anonymity to reveal
seats in November 2018 to private conversations, de-
win House control, a steep scribed a high level of anx-
climb. But 23 Republicans iety within the GOP, fed
represent districts that by a frustration over the
Democrat Hillary Clinton party’s scant legislative
won in last year’s presi- accomplishments.q