Dems shun wall money from other parts of budget

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Democrats say President Donald Trump isn’t paying for his border wall from other parts of the government’s budget because doing so would require approval from Congress.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer rejected White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ suggestion Tuesday that there are ways to pay for the wall using federal money allocated to other things. Schumer said to do so, “They’d need congressional approval, and they’re not getting it for the wall.”

The statement was the latest volley in the standoff over passing a funding bill.

Trump, who vowed to make Mexico pay for the wall along the border, is insisting that any budget plan include U.S. funding. Democrats are refusing. If the standoff is not resolved, parts of the government will shut down at midnight Friday.