Trump Signs NASA Bill, Hands Ted Cruz the Pen

WASHINGTON -- President Trump handed out pens after signing a NASA authorization bill, and a half-dozen lawmakers from Texas and Florida got one. But only Sen. Ted Cruz got the actual pen he'd used to sign the document. The others just got Oval Office souvenirs.If it was a peace offering it came at an important time. Trump badly needs Cruz's support for the Obamacare repeal measure that he hopes will clear the House on Thursday. Lawmakers from both parties flanked Trump, with Cruz just to his right, with House Science Chairman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, and Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston -- chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that controls NASA's funding -- also nearby."They love NASA, they love everything it stands for," Trump said, touting the bill as a jobs bill that will not only support human space exploration and space science, and ongoing medical care for astronauts, but will also generate "a lot of jobs, and these are great jobs."Trump marveled at the courage it takes to go into space and teased Cruz and Rubio, in particular, as to whether they'd be interested. (Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat standing nearby, actually has been to space but Trump didn't mention that.)"You could send Congress to space," quipped Cruz. "What a great idea," Trump joked.  Continue reading...