Border Wall Fight Could Prompt Year-End Shutdown

(The Hill) Its only June but President Trumps laser-like focus on immigration and desire for a border wall is making GOP lawmakers nervous that lagging talks on a budget deal could further bog down and lead to another government shutdown. Trump is demanding $5 billion in border-wall funding as part of a deal that would put ceilings on federal spending and raise the debt ceiling. A senior administration official on Friday said the Senate should put together appropriations bills that fund the presidents border-wall request. The GOP Senate could then negotiate with Democrats in the House on compromise version of the spending bills later this year.