House Poised to Approve $1.6b Down Payment for Border Wall Promised by Trump

WASHINGTON - The House is poised to set aside $1.6 billion to start construction of the border wall promised by President Donald Trump - a costly yet modest down payment on a massive project that would cost far more if ever finished.Lawmakers made no effort to extract payment from Mexico, as the president's oft-stated campaign vow fades into memory.House GOP leaders tucked the wall funding into a defense spending bill that goes to a floor vote on Wednesday. It tracks Trump's budget request for 2018. The funds would cover just 60 miles of new barrier, all in Texas, plus 14 miles of backup fencing in California.Democrats who view the barrier as a boondoggle decried the tactic, along with the plan itself.  Continue reading...