Sen. Cory Gardner To Break With Republicans On Trumps Wall

(The Denver Post) The Denver Post Editorial Board January 23 2019 7:09 pm Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardners spokesman told us Wednesday he intends to vote for a clean funding bill that would open the government with no increased border-security funding attached. Its the right thing to do. We cannot stress enough that our democracys health is at stake in this political stalemate. When we allow funding measures and budgets to be tied to policy objectives and pet projects everyone suffers. Both parties are guilty of the malpractice as we noted at about this time last year when Democrats were the ones orchestrating a shutdown in pursuit of protections for immigrants without legal status who were brought to America as kids. This 33-day partial shutdown is driven by President Donald Trumps demands for $5.7 billion for a wall on Americas southern border. It should stand as the last time our politicians abuse federal workers as though they are disposable pawns in a grander game of political chess. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Kentucky pledged to allow his members to vote on two bills Thursday and one would fund the government until Feb. 8 without the controversial money for Trumps wall (it would keep border security funding at the same level). That clean continuing resolution takes the common-sense approach of alleviating the shutdown crisis and then allowing negotiations on immigration reform and border security. The measure is likely to get the support of every Democrat in the Senate including Colorados Michael Bennet but its unlikely the bill will pass as it needs 60 votes and most Republicans are standing firm with Trump. Democrats in the House have already approved a clean funding bill.