Three is company in Congressional spending bill

As 2018 is an election year in Congress, the stakes are higher than ever in the legislative branch. With the deadline for a government budget looming on January 19, the government could shut down if an agreement is not reached. The Republicans in Congress want to pass a budget to show that they are still able to govern; the Democrats want to respond to advocacy groups and come to a resolution on the Deferred Action on Child Arrivals program (DACA); President Trump wants to fulfill a campaign promise to build a “smart wall” on the US/Mexico border.

Republicans hold a slim majority in the Senate, but still enough to get legislation passed. They hope to get a critical piece of legislation passed–the US budget–and sent to the president, but there are several kinks to work out first.

Democrats are still under pressure from advocacy groups that want DACA to be reinstated and hope that the Dems are able to leverage their support for the Republican spending plan. Going into the elections in the fall, it is more important than ever for both sides to appear favorable to the public.

President Trump, however, has thrown another wrench in the plan; he wants $18 billion for a southern border wall. Trump, with near record low approval ratings, hopes to fulfill one of the cornerstones of his 2016 campaign. While many Democrats, such as Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, say that, “We’re not going to support a wall across America,” President Trump promises that “The wall is going to happen, or we’re not going to have DACA.”