BORDER/CONGRESS/DHS/FEDERAL FUNDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Arguing that President Donald Trump must ‘come to his senses,’ House Democrats offered a plan Monday [12-30-19] to end the government shutdown and give Congress more time to negotiate a deal with the White House over border funding. The plan includes full-year funding for shuttered departments except for the Department of Homeland Security. It also calls for temporary funding for DHS through Feb. 8, putting off for several weeks the major sticking point that caused the shutdown. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security sits at the center of the ongoing impasse between the White House and congressional Democrats that has led to a partial government shutdown, now in its second week. Trump has sought additional money for a border wall, and Democrats have balked at the idea.”
–David Jackson and John Fritze, “House Democrats propose plan to end government shutdown, extend battle over border money,” USA Today, December 31, 2019 8:25 am