Democrats will not agree to any funding for US-Mexico border wall: Senator Jeff Merkley

Sen. Jeff Merkley said the Democratic party will not agree to any funding for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, one of President Trump’s central campaign promises that is at the heart of the ongoing partial government shutdown.

“We’re absolutely willing to fund border security,” the Oregon Democrat, who is weighing a run for president in 2020, said on “This Week” Sunday. “The American people want us to spend money in a smart way. Five billion dollars is a lot of money…to spend it on a fourth-century strategy rather than on stuff that actually improves border security is something that we’re just not going to do.”

“So let me be clear, Democrats are not going to agree to any funding to build new border wall -– none?” ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl asked.

“That’s correct,” Merkley said. “None.”

At 12 a.m. Saturday, the government partially shut down after the White House and Congress couldn’t reach a budget funding deal, with President Trump saying he wouldn’t sign a bill that didn’t include $5 billion for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more

Democrats will not agree to any funding for US-Mexico border wall: Senator Jeff Merkley

Sen. Jeff Merkley said the Democratic party will not agree to any funding for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, one of President Trump’s central campaign promises that is at the heart of the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Democrats will not agree to any funding for US-Mexico border wall: Senator Jeff Merkley

Sen. Jeff Merkley said the Democratic party will not agree to any funding for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, one of President Trump’s central campaign promises that is at the heart of the ongoing partial government shutdown.