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McConnell: Trump Wanted To Avoid ‘Picture Of Divisiveness’ At A Time Of Crisis

(CNSNews.com) – Shortly after House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected a Democrat plan to combine a three-month debt limit extension with Hurricane Harvey relief, President Trump went along with the Democrats.

The Trump-Democrat deal also includes a continuing resolution to fund the government through mid-December.

Asked if he was “surprised” that Trump sided with Democrats instead of insisting on the longer-term measures that Republicans wanted, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Trump “can speak for himself.”

“But his feeling was that we needed to come together, to not create a picture of divisiveness at a time of genuine national crisis,” McConnell told a news conference Wednesday.

McConnell told reporters he will add the three-month continuing resolution and the three-month debt limit extension as amendments to the flood relief bill passed by the House on Wednesday.

“We — in the meeting down at the White House, as I indicated, the president agreed with Senator Schumer and Congresswoman Pelosi to do a three-month C.R. and a debt ceiling into December,” McConnell said. “And that’s what I will be offering, based on the president’s decision, to the bill. And then we’ll try to get 60 votes and move forward.”

McConnell said he would support the combined legislation.

“After that, we’ll be turning to the national defense bill,” he added.

Trump’s short-term deal with Democrats leaves Republicans with no leverage to achieve their legislative priorities.

(First reported by CNS News)https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/mcconnell-trump-wanted-avoid-picture-divisiveness-time-crisis   (September 7, 2017)


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