Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 6 september
Congress to speed up Harvey aid, tackle debt limit

By ERICA WERNER do quickly,” Majority Lead-
AP Congressional Corre- er Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,
spondent said as he opened the Sen-
WASHINGTON (AP) — ate session. “Pass disaster
Lawmakers returned to relief. Prevent a default so
Washington Tuesday fac- that those emergency re-
ing a daunting to-do list sources can actually get
and three months left in to Americans who need
the year to show that Re- them. And keep the gov-
publicans can actually ernment funded.”
get things done. President There is no time to waste.
Donald Trump immediately Federal disaster funds run
added a huge complica- out on Friday, the Federal
tion by rescinding immigra- Emergency Management
tion protections for young- Agency is warning law-
er immigrants and ordering makers. FEMA has just $1
Congress to come up with billion remaining in its disas-
a fix. ter accounts.
The immigration issue has In addition to the tasks
defeated Congress’ best Congress must do, McCo-
efforts in the past and nnell also made a pitch
proven enormously divisive for the big issue GOP law-
for the GOP. But for now makers want to do in the
there’s not even room for it In this Feb. 27, 2017 photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., accompanied by remainder of the year:
on the front burner as law- House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington. overhaul the U.S. tax code
makers, just back from a Having accomplished little in the first six months of the year they now face a daunting workload, to lower rates for business-
five-week summer recess, but the immediate need to send aid to help Texas and Louisiana recover from the massive storm es and individuals. After
face a series of more im- damage takes center stage, and pushes other disputes to the side. failing to make good on
mediate tasks. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) promises to repeal and
First up: Speeding relief aid for Harvey’s victims. payments. The administra- GOP dispute. replace Barack Obama’s
to Texas and Louisiana in That will be the easy part. tion and GOP leaders were “We are grateful that in health care law, Repub-
the wake of the Harvey GOP leaders are also wres- making plans to add the Texas the flood waters licans feel a real sense of
storm. A first $7.9 billion in- tling with how to raise the debt limit increase to the continue to recede. But urgency to accomplish a
stallment was set for House government’s $19.9 trillion Harvey relief bill in the Sen- here in the swamp, they tax rewrite so that they can
passage on Wednesday, debt limit, something that ate and send it back to the continue to rise,” fumed have something to show to
with leaders hoping for a must happen by month’s House, a plan that quickly GOP Rep. Mark Walker of voters ahead of midterm
big bipartisan vote to dem- end, at the latest, to avoid provoked conservative ire North Carolina, chairman elections next year where
onstrate Congress’ support a first-ever default on U.S. and a familiar intramural of the Republican Study the House majority is at
Committee, referring to stake.
Washington, D.C. He made Top GOP House and Sen-
the comments in an inter- ate leaders met with Trump
view Tuesday on Fox News and key administration of-
Channel. ficials on the issue Tuesday
Despite the conservative afternoon at the White
outrage, leaders were House.“If we’re going to
pressing forward with the keep momentum going
plan as a way to sweeten and allow the economy to
the perennially unpopular truly take off as it should,
debt limit vote. As usual it is vital that we reduce
they planned to rely on crushing tax burden on
Democratic votes to get it our companies and on our
over the finish line without workers,” Trump said as
conservative support. McConnell, House Speak-
And, Congress must also er Paul Ryan and others
approve new spending by gathered with him for the
Sept. 30 to stave off a gov- meeting.“This is more than
ernment shutdown. The just tax reform. This is tax
plan for dispensing with cutting,” said Trump “We’re
that issue was a short-term going to cut taxes, we’re
extension of existing spend- going to reduce taxes, for
ing levels, which would kick people, for individuals, for
the funding fight into De- middle income families.
cember. At that point law- We’re going to reduce tax-
makers could add more es for companies.”
money for Texas and Loui- Despite feuding with Trump
siana and fight it out over over the summer as the
Trump’s call for money for president attacked him
a wall along on the U.S.- for the Senate’s failure on
Mexico border. health care, McConnell
“We have three critically earlier praised Trump as
important things before us “very engaged on this is-
right now that we need to sue.” q