DEFENSE/SENATE/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. senators agreed on Wednesday [8-15-15] to debate and vote in the next few days on more than $850 billion in spending on defense, labor and healthcare programs, as the Trump administration announced its objections to some parts of the bill. The so-called ‘minibus’ appropriations bill includes nearly $675 billion in spending for the Department of Defense, as well as about $182 billion for an array of domestic programs under the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies. Congressional aides said the Senate combined the two bills in the hope that President Donald Trump would not veto the domestic spending measure. Trump has threatened to shut down the government if Congress, which is controlled by his fellow Republicans, does not adhere to his spending priorities, especially his desire to spend billions of dollars to build a wall on the border with Mexico. On Wednesday, his administration announced its position on the bill. While not threatening a veto, the ‘Statement of Administration Policy’ noted that the bill does not include administration proposals to reduce spending in areas such as education and healthcare research.”
–Reuters Staff, “Senate to consider massive spending bill, faces Trump objections,” Reuters, August 15, 2018 3:59 pm