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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 10 april 2018

GOP Republicans return to work with Trump wish list in mind

By LISA MASCARO epidemic and symbolic
AP Congressional Corre- House bills on making tax
spondent cuts permanent or achiev-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ing a balanced budget
Republican majority in that, though unlikely to be-
Congress was on a glide come law, could motivate
path to the midterms, hav- Republicans to go to the
ing passed tax cuts into polls in November. Senators
law and backed off bud- were considering more ju-
get battles with a year- dicial nominees, including
end funding package. But some on track Monday for
President Trump was not confirmation this week.
impressed. Republicans were planning
Trump has been picking to ride to re-election this fall
apart some GOP accom- on the success of their tax
plishments, including the cuts package, a once-in-
big budget bill, and com- a-generation accomplish-
plaining that others, name- ment that has long been
ly his border wall, remained among the GOP's top pri-
undone. orities.
Congress returned Monday But at a campaign stop last
scrambling over a to-do list week, even Trump seemed
that will satisfy a president to have tired of the tax
Republicans desperately cuts. He literally tossed his
need to be promoting their prepared remarks aside
achievements, not under- as "boring" and instead
mining them, as they pre- focused on a caravan of
pare to hit the campaign Central American migrants
trail. making its way through
"A lot of members would Mexico and on his plan
prefer to spend the rest of In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, a early morning runner crosses in front of the U.S. Capitol as he for National Guard troops
the year focusing on get- passes the flags circling the Washington Monument in Washington. at the border. Trump even
ting re-elected, but there's Associated Press revived his attack on immi-
pressure from the White grants as "rapists" from his
House ... to deliver more strategists say. They need on Fox News Sunday. "I border security could be presidential campaign.
policy wins before facing Trump on their side, not pil- think the Republican Party among the biggest issues "Remember my opening re-
voters," said Alex Conant, a ing on. on the Hill has finally figured for Congress this spring and marks at Trump Tower when
GOP strategist. "Every day that Trump at- out, it's really not a bad summer. I opened? Everybody said,
On Monday, the Senate tacks Congress, he hurts idea to trim some spending That's likely news to Repub- 'Oh, he was so tough,' and
swore in its newest mem- Republicans' chance of because, after all, spend- licans running for re-elec- I used the word rape," he
ber, Republican Cindy keeping the majority," ing can lead to deficits and tion, particularly in swing said during the tax reform
Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. Conant said. spending interferes with the districts or with sizable mi- roundtable in West Virginia.
Hyde-Smith was tapped by The problems between economy." nority populations, who "So we have to change our
the Mississippi governor as Trump and Congress, fes- At the same time, Trump's have shown little interest laws," he said. "We have to
the first woman in Congress tering for months, spilled revolving door of Cabinet in the kind of beefed-up have strong borders. We're
to represent the state, fill- into the open when the secretaries has created a border security the admin- going to have the wall."
ing the seat after longtime president toyed with veto- legislative logjam of its own. istration has proposed to The tough talk may push
GOP Sen. Thad Cochran ing the $1.3 trillion funding It has forced the Senate to turn back unaccompanied voters to the polls for Re-
resigned. bill he thought spent too launch lengthy confirma- minors and clamp down on publicans in the more
Later, Democrat Conor much money on Demo- tion hearings, starting with asylum seekers. conservative districts who
Lamb will take his seat cratic priorities and not this week for Mike Pompeo To complicate the agenda are already likely to have
Thursday in the House after enough on his, including as the new secretary of further, Trump wants Con- a good chance at re-
a long-shot special election the border wall. state. After that, there are gress to try again on an im- election. But more than
win in western Pennsylva- While Congress was away, Trump's picks for CIA direc- migration overhaul, an issue anything, strategists said,
nia. Trump started talking about tor and Veterans Affairs Republicans were happy to it helps secure Trump's sup-
Lawmakers also learned rescinding some of that secretary. shelve earlier this year after porters for Trump.
Monday they have limited money, working with House The nomination battles are he rejected their compro- "Would any Republican
room to maneuver after Majority Leader Kevin Mc- sure to dredge up tough mise with Democrats. They other than Steve King
the nonpartisan Congres- Carthy, R-Calif., on a do- debates — over the Rus- offered $25 billion for the rather have the president
sional Budget Office said over package that would sia probe, the CIA's use of border wall in exchange talking about jobs, the tax
annual deficits will skyrock- force lawmakers into an- waterboarding and other for deportation protections cuts, or have the president
et close to $1 trillion in com- other round of budget harsh interrogation tech- for the young immigrants talk about migrants being
ing years after passage of votes this spring or summer. niques now outlawed, and known as "Dreamers." raped?" said GOP strategist
the tax and spending bills. Republicans are eyeing the spiraling costs and care Trump's to-do list is not the Doug Heye, referring to the
But Trump's penchant for less than $30 billion in cuts, at the VA. They're hardly springtime agenda Repub- Iowa congressman who is
belittling lawmakers and though the White House the top conversations law- licans in Congress were among the most hard line
badgering them to work may seek more. makers would choose as hoping for. Instead, they on immigration.
doesn't help instill voter "We are looking at an en- their focus in the months had expected to spend But, he added, "We know
confidence in Republicans hanced rescission pack- before an election. the next few months tack- that Donald Trump didn't
already facing an enthusi- age," said Lawrence Kud- A senior administration offi- ling more modest mea- come here for glide path
asm gap with Democrats low, the White House's cial told reporters on a con- sures. Among them: legisla- or status quo. He came to
fired up to go to the polls, Chief Economic Adviser, ference call last week that tion to address the opioid shake things up."q