USA - the Wall: Talks Over Border Security Break Down, Imperiling Effort to Prevent Shutdown - by Emily Cochrane, Maggie Haberman and Eric Schmitt

Bipartisan talks to reach a border security agreement have stalled, lawmakers and aides said on Sunday, imperiling efforts to prevent another government shutdown days before the Friday deadline.

Senator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key figure in the negotiations, confirmed the impasse on Sunday, saying that he was “not confident we’re going to get there.

“I’ll say 50-50 we get a deal,” Mr. Shelby said, speaking on “Fox News Sunday.” “The specter of a shutdown is always out there.”

The 17 House and Senate lawmakers negotiating, known as a conference committee, had set an informal deadline of Monday to reach a deal, because Congress would need that much time to consider the legislation without waiving procedural rules and still pass it by Friday, when funding for several departments and agencies expires. But an aide familiar with the talks said lawmakers had stopped communicating.

Read more: Talks Over Border Security Break Down, Imperiling Effort to Prevent Shutdown - The New York Times

USA: shutdown cost US economy $11 Billion and State Of the Union address will be postponed says Pelosi aid

State of the Union: Trump's address will be postponed, claims Pelosi aide –

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/jan/28/trump-news-latest-live-us-politics-today-shutdown-afghanistan-starbucks-shutdown?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

USA - Chaotic Trump Administration: Trump now says he will not give State of the Union until after shutdown ends - by John Parkinson

The ABC Network reported that the back and forth between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump over when and where the State of the Union will be delivered -- if at all -- came to a conclusion, if temporary, late Wednesday night.

Trump will not give a speech until after the partial government shutdown is over.

The president tweeted the news in a two-part missive just before midnight, saying, "As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative - I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over."

He ended speculation he might look to give the speech in a location other than the House of Representatives as well, saying he's not looking for another venue.

As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative - I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. I am not looking for an.alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber. I look forward to giving a “great” State of the Union Address in the near future!" Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019

In response, Pelosi took the opportunity to encourage the president to support a bill to fund the government while discussions over border security continue.

"Mr. President, I hope by saying 'near future' you mean you will support the House-passed package to #EndTheShutdown that the Senate will vote on tomorrow," she said. "Please accept this proposal so we can re-open government, repay our federal workers and then negotiate our differences." .....— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 24, 2019

The bill is mostly likely dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate.

It's the latest twist in their political and seemingly personal feud earlier Wednesday, Pelosi sent a letter to Trump saying there would be no State of the Union address in the House chamber until after the partial government shutdown ends, effectively rescinding her invitation to the president.

"When I extended an invitation on January 3rd for you to deliver the State of the Union address, it was on the mutually agreed upon date, January 29th. At that time, there was no thought that the government would still be shut down," her letter said.

"I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened," Pelosi, D-Calif., said.

The resolution is necessary to authorize the president to address a joint session of Congress.

"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened," Pelosi's letter continued.

Trump says he will not give State of the Union until after shutdown ends - ABC News

USA - Government Shutdown: Republican Congressman: Trump’s Border Crisis Is a ‘Myth’- by Andy Kroll

Congressman Will Hurd of Texas is an increasingly lonely voice in the “build the wall” Republican Party of Donald Trump. A 41-year-old former undercover CIA officer, Hurd represents one of the largest congressional districts in America, Texas’ 23rd, a vast expanse of land roughly the size of Georgia that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso.

Hurd’s district includes 820 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, more than any other member of the House of Representatives. But if you’re expecting Hurd, who was narrowly re-elected to a third term last year, to support President Trump’s “big, beautiful wall” and stand with the decision to partially shut down the federal government over the fight, you’ve got it all wrong. Trump’s border crisis is a “myth,” Hurd tells Rolling Stone, and a wall made of cement or steel slats is a “third-century solution to a 21st-century problem.”

“What I always say is building a wall from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security,” Hurd says.

He is one of the few Republicans to break ranks and vote with Democrats to approve funding to reopen the government. On Wednesday, he announced that he’d landed a coveted seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, bringing the perspective of someone who actually knows the border to Congress’ main government-funding committee.

Rolling Stone caught up with Hurd in his office on Capitol Hill to discuss the “wall,” what it’s like to represent nearly half of the entire U.S.-Mexico border and his idea for a modern-day Marshall Plan to address the root causes of the social and economic crisis in Latin America that has led to so many immigrants fleeing north and seeking refuge in the U.S. The conversation follows, lightly edited for length and clarity.

The word that we keep hearing from President Trump is that there’s a “crisis” at the border. Is there a crisis at the border?

If there is a crisis, why are the people that are dealing with it not being paid? That’s the first step.

Good question. This is an issue that has transcended multiple administrations. I think $67 billion of drugs coming into our country is a crisis. Now, I also think when you think of a crisis, that means people are afraid to leave their homes, right? El Paso is one of the safest cities in the United States of America. The same can be said about Del Rio, Presidio and Eagle Pass, places I represent.

It’s a problem that should be solved. Yes, last year 400,000 people tried to come into our country illegally, and that’s a decrease in 80 percent from 2000. But 400,000 is still a big number.

When I crisscross my district, the thing I hear the most, people are like, “We need workers.” Whether it’s agriculture or artificial intelligence, we need workers. Why aren’t we also talking about streamlining this immigration process so that we get people here legally who are going to contribute to our economy? It’s a problem that needs to be solved. I think it requires us to be cool, level-headed and talk about those solutions.

Read more at: Republican Congressman: Trump’s Border Crisis Is a ‘Myth’

USA: Republicans Senators launch a bill that would end all future Government shutdowns

Republican Senators roll out bill that would end all future shutdowns -

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https://on.mktw.net/2M7mOvg

TRAVEL WARNING : Get to US airports early:Trump US Government Adminstration shutdown could double security lines as more and moreTSA agents call in sick

Get to US airports early: Government shutdown could double security lines as TSA agents have been calling in sick .

Also international tourists should avoid traveling to the US  because most National Parks and other Public attractions are also closed as a result of the Trump Government  shutdown.

 

Read more at:
https://on.mktw.net/2RzqlYw

US shutdown talks: White House and Republicans fail to agree deal - by Dan Roberts and Dominic Rushe

US House Speaker John Boehner

White House talks with Republicans failed to reach an agreement to end the budget crisis on Thursday evening, but a marked change in tone from the participants suggested a deal to end the protracted standoff could finally be in sight.

Discussions between Barack Obama and House speaker John Boehner broke up after 90 minutes with no specific agreement, but both sides said discussions would continue to prevent the US defaulting on its debt obligations.

Earlier, Boehner sent stock markets soaring by offering to pass a temporary six-week extension to the US debt limit that the Treasury estimates will be reached on 17 October.

Republicans are also under pressure to lift their refusal to pass a separate spending authorisation, which precipiated a partial shutdown of the government, leading to the lockout of an estimated 800,000 federal workers.

Obama has insisted on at least a temporary reprieve from both threats before he would agree to negotiate over Republican demands to repeal his healthcare reforms and cut spending.

Read more: US shutdown talks: White House and Republicans fail to agree deal | World news | The Guardian

USA: Government Shutdown - Obama Press Conference On Debt Ceiling, Government Shutdown - by Brett LoGiurato

President Barack Obama seemed to open the door Tuesday to a short-term fix to the couple of budget battles running their way through Congress.

During a press conference with reporters, Obama signaled that he would be open to a deal that would reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling while allowing for negotiations between the two parties.

"If they want to do that, reopen the government, extend the debt ceiling," Obama said. "If they can't do it for a long time, do it for the period of time in which these negotiations are taking place. 

"Why is it that we've got hundreds and thousands of people who aren't working right now in order for what you just described to occur? It doesn't make any sense."

But while he said that he was prepared to sit down and negotiate with Republicans on anything — as long as they agree to reopen the government and lift the debt ceiling first, he insisted, "We can't make extortion routine as part of our democracy.

"Democracy doesn't function this way. And this is not just for me; it's also for my successors in office. Whatever party they're from, they shouldn't have to pay a ransom either for Congress doing its basic job. We've got to put a stop to it."

Obama breathlessly tried to explain why there were no tricks, no workarounds, and no getting around Congress raising the debt ceiling. He said that there are no "silver bullets." There's no "magic wand." And options frequently discussed as alternatives — such as the 14th Amendment and minting a high-value platinum coin — also wouldn't work.

"I say, imagine, in your private life, if you decided that I'm not going to pay my mortgage for a month or two. First of all, you're not saving money by not paying your mortgage. You're just a deadbeat. And you can anticipate that will hurt your credit, which means that in addition to the debt collectors calling, you're going to have trouble borrowing in the future," Obama said.

"And if you are able to borrow in the future, you're going to have to borrow at a higher rate. Well, what's true for individuals is also true for nations."

Read more: Obama Press Conference On Debt Ceiling, Government Shutdown - Business Insider

Why other countries don't shut down their governments - by Peter Weber

When U.S. politicians talk about American exceptionalism, it's a positive thing: The United States is singularly stable and prosperous because of its unique political, economic, and cultural history. But the U.S. is peerless in some less desirable ways, too. No other country makes its legislature vote to raise the country's borrowing limit, for example, to pay for spending the legislature has already approved.

And no other country shuts down its government in the same way the U.S. does.

That's not to say that other nations don't have budgetary disagreements and worse. They do. But "for most of the world, a government shutdown is very bad news — the result of revolution, invasion, or disaster," says Anthony Zurcher at BBC News. Seriously, "even in the middle of its ongoing civil war, the Syrian government has continued to pay its bills and workers' wages."

Syria's not alone. "Countries like Pakistan and Colombia have had civil wars, coups, financial crises, even defaults but never a government shutdown," says Erik Voeten at The Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog.

In Belgium, tensions between the Flemish (Dutch speakers) and Walloons (French speakers) got so heated in 2010 and 2011 that the country had no elected government for 589 days — "yet, budgets were passed, government workers were paid, and government services continued to be provided," says Voeten. In fact, Voeten adds, "I cannot think of a single foreign analogy to what is happening in the U.S. today."

Read more: Why other countries don't shut down their governments - The Week

Tourism: US government shutdown: How will this crisis affect your planned vacation to America?

Closed: National State Parks 

Sorry, but tourists who are already in the US will just have to "grin and bear" this US  Government shutdown.

If, however, you are still planning planning to visit the US soon you probably are best advised  to try and reschedule your visit.

If your holiday plans only call for visiting a large city, to lie by the beach, or to visit corporate operated exhibits or theme parks, like Disney World, then go by all means.

For tourists who want to visit America's beautiful national parks, historic sites or museums, you should definitely change your plans if you still can, most of the famous spots are presently closed.

These include, but are not limited to:  Liberty Island, The National Zoo, some 19 museums and galleries around the US, including the National Museum, Natural History Museum, the Portrait Gallery, the Air and Space Museum, the White House and The Smithsonian,. Also closed are most State National Parks from Maine to Hawaii.

If you already happen to be  in America don't worry, you can still send a postcard home, although technically bankrupt, the US Postal Services is 'self-funded' and open for business.

EU-Digest

US Congressional Chaos: House Republicans to propose one-year delay of Obamacare - by Paul Kane, Rosalind S. Helderman and David A. Fahrenthold

House Republican leaders proposed a new plan to the GOP rank-and-file Saturday afternoon: Make a new gesture of defiance toward President Obama’s health-care law, even if it increases the chances of a government shutdown Monday night.

Their proposal calls for amendments to a bill designed to keep the government open for a few more weeks. The changes would include a one-year delay in the health-care law, which is set to take effect next month. The GOP plan would also repeal, permanently, a medical-device tax included in the law.

The advantage of that plan — for Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and his team — is political. After being criticized by GOP hard-liners for not doing enough to undermine the health-care law, Boehner has taken a far more aggressive position. Instead of seeking to take away some of the money to implement Obamacare, the House GOP’s new plan would push back the whole thing.

The disadvantage is more practical: This plan is far more likely to result in a government shutdown. It may pass the House — and it may even pass Saturday. But it is not likely to pass the Democratic-held Senate or be signed by Obama.

On Saturday, in fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said the House’s new plan was “pointless.”

“The Senate will reject both the one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act and the repeal of the medical device tax,” Reid said in a statement, referring to the health-care law. “After weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one: Republicans must decide whether to pass the Senate’s clean CR, or force a Republican government shutdown.”

Read more: House Republicans to propose one-year delay of Obamacare - The Washington Post