Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 27 January 2017
GOP leaders: Bill to build wall will cost up to $15 billion

ERICA WERNER but Mexico opposes it and
AP Congressional Corre- has said it won’t finance
spondent it. Mexican President En-
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Con- rique Pena Nieto on Thurs-
gress will move legislation day canceled a planned
this year providing up to meeting next week with
$15 billion to build a wall Trump. Congress will pay
along the Mexican bound- for “the construction of
ary, Republican leaders the physical barrier on the
said Thursday. But they border,” Ryan said. “We
would not say how they’d intend to address the wall
prevent the massive proj- issue ourselves,” said Mc-
ect from worsening federal Connell. Pressed on wheth-
deficits, and were meet- er construction would in-
ing resistance from GOP crease federal deficits,
lawmakers. House Speaker Ryan said Republicans
Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen- are fiscal conservatives.
ate Majority Leader Mitch He said strengthening the
McConnell, R-Ky., told economy and replacing
reporters at a GOP strat- President Barack Obama’s
egy retreat that they were health care system were
planning legislation provid- two of the best ways to
ing $12 billion to $15 billion bolster the government’s
for constructing the wall, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., joined by, from left, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of budget. “If we’re going to
one of President Donald Calif., House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Calif., meets reporters be spending on things like
Trump’s chief goals. Ryan on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress will move legislation this year providing up to $15 billion to infrastructure, we’re going
said the goal is to com- build a wall along the Mexican boundary, Republican leaders said Thursday. to find the fiscal space to
plete that and other major (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) pay for that” in a budget
bills in 2017, but the leaders the wall would be paid for, til the Trump administration Trump has repeatedly said Congress plans to write this
offered no details on how saying they would wait un- proposes legislation. Mexico will pay for the wall, spring, Ryan said.q

Spicer says Trump seeks 20 percent tax on Mexican imports

JULIE PACE dent Donald Trump called retreat Thursday but of- tax on Mexican imports to But then later, at the White
AP White House Correspon- on fellow Republicans to fered few details. Later his pay for a proposed bor- House, Spicer tried to take
dent help him enact “great and spokesman said the presi- der wall. The president was back his earlier comments
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Presi- lasting change” at a party dent will seek a 20 percent greeted by cheers as he by saying the 20 percent
took the stage in a hotel tax is one of several options
ballroom, telling senators under consideration and
and House members, “This Trump hasn’t settled on it
Congress is going to be as the way to recoup con-
the busiest Congress in de- struction costs for building
cades — maybe ever.” the wall. In Trump’s remarks
He addressed lawmakers to lawmakers, he cast the
shortly after Mexican Presi- cancellation of his engage-
dent Enrique Pena Nieto ment with Pena Nieto as
canceled a trip to Wash- a mutual decision, saying
ington next week for his first they had “agreed to can-
meeting with the new presi- cel our planned meeting.”
dent due to their disagree- Trump had tweeted early
ment over which of their Thursday that “it would be
countries would pay to better to cancel the up-
build Trump’s promised wall coming meeting” given
on the border between Pena Nieto’s unwillingness
them. The wall is part of to pay for the border wall.
Trump’s plan to halt illegal Trump’s election put Re-
immigration to the U.S., and publicans in control of
he has long insisted that both the White House and
Mexico will pay. Congress for the first time in
Pena Nieto insists his coun- more than a decade. Yet
try will not. Trump’s often fluid ideol-
On the flight back to ogy has sometimes put him
Washington, White House at odds with his own party,
spokesman Sean Spicer making agreement on is-
told reporters traveling with sues including a tax over-
the president that Trump haul and entitlements no
will seek to impose a 20 guarantee. Addressing fel-
percent tax on Mexican low Republicans, the presi-
imports to pay for the wall. dent spoke about his agen-
Congressional approval da in broad terms and then
would be needed for such skipped a planned ques-
a step. tion-and-answer session. q