NATURAL DISASTERS/SENATE/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Senators whose states are recovering from natural disasters will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday [4-11-19] afternoon to discuss a stalled aid package. The meeting comes as the Senate prepares to leave for a two-week recess without coming to a deal on a multibillion-dollar disaster aid proposal. Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) are among the senators set to meet with the president…Disaster aid negotiators are at a standstill over how much money should be allocated to Puerto Rico, which was hit hard by two hurricanes in 2017. Talks broke down recently after Trump reportedly told Senate Republicans that the island was getting too much disaster aid money and claimed Puerto Rico mismanaged its money. Democrats insist that Puerto Rico receive more money and want the aid package to include language that would free up billions of dollars that have been already allocated. Republicans have resisted approving more funds for Puerto Rico, saying they need to craft a deal Trump won’t veto. The breakdown in discussions, along with the congressional recess, means states devastated by floods, hurricanes and wildfires will have to wait longer for disaster or emergency aid.”
-Marianne Levine and Burgess Everett, “Senators to meet with Trump on disaster aid,” Politico, April 11, 2019 1:17 pm