Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.) said on Tuesday that Democrats want "zero dollars" to go toward border wall funding.
As the deadline to pass a funding bill for the government, President Donald Trump met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) on Tuesday to negotiate a deal. One major issue of negotiation is Trump's proposed border, for which he has requested $5 billion. Democrats are resistant to Trump's wall and Schumer has urged Trump to agree to a one year resolution to keep border wall funding at the current $1.3 billion level or agree to $1.6 billion in funding.
"You previously called, and I want to make sure I get it right, called the wall a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem," Bolduan said. "Would you be okay with them agreeing to any money for any wall, fence or whatever you want to call it?"
"Our feeling about it is that the Republicans at least for another three weeks control the House, the Senate, and the White House. And if they want to go ahead and pass the budget without us, they can do it," Raskin said, "But if they need our help, we don't believe in their wall ... So our position is, sure, let's invest in border security. Let's do immigration reform. But let's get to the business of the American people and stop the nonsense about the wall."
Bolduan noted that while Republicans control the House for another few weeks, they still need Democratic support in the Senate to get to 60 votes and pass a funding bill. She asked Raskin if he would be okay with the proposed $1.6 billion in funding.
"No, we're for zero dollars in border wall funding. Now, we obviously support money for security measures at the border, as we always have," Raskin said. "It's true that the president promised he would build a wall. He also promised that Mexico would pay for it. If he wants to keep one promise, he should keep the other, too. Let the Mexican government pay for it."
Trump went on Twitter Tuesday morning to complain about Democrats lack of support for the border wall and said they want "Open Borders."
.....Ice, Border Patrol and our Military have done a FANTASTIC job of securing our Southern Border. A Great Wall would be, however, a far easier & less expensive solution. We have already built large new sections & fully renovated others, making them like new. The Democrats,.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2018
....however, for strictly political reasons and because they have been pulled so far left, do NOT want Border Security. They want Open Borders for anyone to come in. This brings large scale crime and disease. Our Southern Border is now Secure and will remain that way.......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2018
When Bolduan asked Raskin about the potential for Democrats getting blamed if the government shuts down over the border wall, the congressman repeated that Democrats "don't support a border wall under any circumstances."
