I’m hoping that the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the democratic majority-led US House of Representatives will bite on the republican President Donald Trump latest offer to end the 2019 longest running government shutdown in US history in exchange for the BRIDGE Act — which would extend protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — with the additional legislation to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, as per the 1/19/19 Axios report.
The president plans to unveil his latest offer to end this government shutdown in exchange for his Bridge Act on the 19th of January 2019 around 4:00 PM EST from the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Most Democrats will probably instinctively react by not wanting Speaker Pelosi to bend in her refusal to counter beyond $ 1 dollar towards funding the president’s phony wall over a made-up crisis at the US SW border. But please hear me out, as the primary goal should be to end the suffering of so many fellow Americans.
There is a way the US House Speaker Pelose could win with a ‘royal flush’ by accepting the president’s offers with set caveats.
The 2 caveats that I’m suggesting for the US House Speaker Pelosi to offer, is to make the president end the shutdown immediately while he first, signs off on the Bridge Act. This is not an unreasonable demand considering that the president has previously reneged on similar promises/ propsals. This Bridge Act should be a ‘fait accomplis’ before she would be expected to push for Democrats to allocate additional funding for border security.
Frankly, I’m not believing the GOP in the US Congress will pass this kind of agreement in order for the president to sign the bill into law.
Another caveat would be for her to insist that the members in the two houses of the US Congress being required to vote on a bipartisan Senate bill barring the US Congress from being able to cause future government shutdowns.
See: Several GOP US Senators Develop A Bill To End Future Government Shutdowns
Here’s the rest of the story…
As per a 1/19/19 Reuters report, “U.S. President Donald Trump will propose a compromise on immigration in an afternoon speech on Saturday 1/19/19), but not relent on his demand for funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, a source familiar with his plan said.”
“While maintaining his demand for $5.7 billion in wall funding, Trump will also offer backing for legislation to protect young immigrants known as “Dreamers,” as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, the source said, confirming a report by Axios.”
“Vice President Mike Pence, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser, have been instrumental in crafting the deal, the source said.”
On January 19, 2019, Jonathan Swan of Axios penned the following report, “Exclusive: Trump plans shutdown compromise”
Excerpts:
“President Trump plans to use remarks from the Diplomatic Reception Room on Saturday (1/19/19) to propose a notable immigration compromise, according to sources familiar with the speech.”
“Details: The offer is expected to include Trump’s $5.7 billion demand for wall money in exchange for the BRIDGE Act — which would extend protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — and also legislation to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, according to a source with direct knowledge.”
Gronda Morin 
While I agree this shutdown needs to end immediately, I still cannot in good conscience support giving Trump $5.7 billion for what amounts to nothing more than an ego-toy. It is useless in terms of border security, will further erode our relationship with Mexico as it destroys trade and tourism between our nations. And equally important, it will end up costing at least ten times that amount … the $5.7 billion is just the beginning. If given his way, Trump will continue to hold this nation hostage at every turn, every time he wants more ‘wall money’, or anything else. Our national debt is already ridiculous and this can only make matters worse. Meanwhile, we could be using that money for humanitarian causes, for education, for health care. So yes, the shutdown needs to end, else if there is no functional government, why do we even need a president? And yes, I would like very much to see DACA protections extended … it is the only right thing to do. But we cannot allow this man to bully this nation, to hold us hostage on a whim.
Hugs!!!
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Dear Jill,
Admittedly, I’m biased towards ending the suffering of so many Americans because of the shut down asap.
I’m convinced that the Dems could counter w giving the president even $10 billion dollars towards border security because the likelihood of this wall ever getting off the ground is virtually nil.
If Speaker Pelosi demands that he reopen gov immediately while he signs the Bridge Act before she’s required to act, and he accepts this deal, she should jump on it.
The chances of GOP of both houses passing the Bridge Act is like me, winning the lottery. It won’t happen.
If she adds the demand for US Congress to pass a law to end future shutdowns, then she would have shot the moon.
She has every right to demand that he act first before she takes step one.
She has to be ready with her counter offers right after he makes his presentation.She can’t afford to appear unreasonable when so many Americans are hurting.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dear Jill,
You were right that this president had no intent to present proposals in good faith which could lead to a solution. He’s still playing his political games.
Too bad as peoples will continue to suffer, needlessly.
Hugs, Gronda
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Everything is a game with him, and the only thing that matters to him is that HE wins. Hugs!
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I have not seen the details of the BRIDGE program but if it doesn’t include a pathway to citizenship for the DACA kids, then no deal. Any deal has to take them off the table permanently. The SCOTUS just handed tRump a defeat on his wanting to kill DACA, lets not give in to him too soon. Hugs
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Dear Scottie,
The good news is that the Democratic Party House Speaker Pelosi has already responded that the president’s proposal was a non-starter. She issue it before he went public.
You were right, the president did not offer perm solution to DACA Dreamers. If i’m right as per 1/18/19 US Supreme Court Court news, the jurists will not be hearing any cases having to do with DACA which means the lower case rulings which bars the president from deporting them. They have already been granted an extension.
As Dems become the majority party in the US Senate in 2020 and win the presidency, then this DACA Dreamers can’ be granted permanent US status.
The president’s proposal was not a legitimate effort. It was another political stunt.
Hugs, Gronda
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Hello Gronda, thanks for the information. I read on twitter somewhere that these proposals from the WH had already been put forth repeatedly and rejected. I cannot figure why they thought today would be different? Hugs
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This, from aljazeera.com —
Despite Trump’s claims that what he is doing is for the safety of everyday Americans, this moment could not make it plainer that he does not care about any of us – not even the working class white people he claims to represent. The wall’s aim is not to protect ordinary Americans, but to rile up Trump’s base using racism
His “concessions” mean nothing so long as the wall is the “prize”.
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Dear Nan,
You and the Al Jazeera writer have nailed this. The president and his cronies may as well have told all those American federal workers who have going for almost a month without pay, “Well I DON’T GIVE A DAMN!”
His wall is a racist symbol as it is being promoted to promote racist, anti-immigration impulses shared by his base of voters..
Hugs, Gronda
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