Category Archives: Fiscal Freedom

Speaker Paul D. Ryanon Tuesday touted what he called "conservative wins"Tuesday in an omnibus package that would fund the government until September, despite members of his own GOP conference who beg to differ.

Several members of the House Freedom Caucus say they will vote against the spending package because it did not include enough of President Donald Trump's priorities even after members of the presidents own team, including his budget director, touted their own victories.

[Republicans Claim Their Own Victories in Omnibus Talks]

Rep. Dave Brat took a long pause when asked what he thought about White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer saying on Monday he had every expectation Trump would sign the funding package.

Thats surprising, the Virginia Republican said. But more importantly is his use of leverage going forward to get that agenda through, right? thats what he ran on, thats what the base wants out of us.

[After Dems Celebrate, Mulvaney Calls Spending Bill a Win for Trump]

Brat, a member of the Freedom Caucus, cited a list of concerns with the spending deal that included no funding for a border wall that Trump promised at virtually every turn on the campaign trail.

Im thinking theres going to be a lot of folks with huge reservations to put it mildly, Brat said.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said he expected the spending package would pass with mostly Democratic votes and absent conservative support.

He said a no vote by conservatives would still be a show of support for the president, despite the administration citing its own wins.

I dont know that it makes a big political statement one way or another, Meadows said.

[Trump Wants September Shutdown to Kill Legislative Filibuster]

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney on Monday called the omnibus a really solid deal citing a $15 billion increase in defense spending, which he disputed was actually $21 billion, as the top accomplishment.

The former GOP House member and Freedom Caucus member expressed his support for the bipartisan effort to fund the government until the end of the fiscal year.

Hes got a different boss now, Meadows said in response to Mulvaneys comments. It used to be the people of South Carolina, now its the president of the United States. I certainly understand his reasoning even though I may not totally agree with it.

Rep. Tom Cole, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said GOP members should think twice about voting down a measure supported bya White House of their own political affiliation.

This is voting against funding a Republican administration and the president has asked us to vote for it, Cole said. I would hope that carries some weight with every Republican.

Mulvaney was reaching out to the press again on a hastily arranged conference call Tuesday morning, shortly after Trump tweeted that Republicans should force a "good 'shutdown' of the government in order to do away with the filibuster in the Senate so more of his priorities could be passed with only GOP support.

I think thats a defensible position, Mulvaney said. He added it was one well deal with in September.

He added that, for now, he and his team are focused on the current omnibus spending measure due for floor votes later this week.

"Weve got a lot of things to do between now and September, Mulvaney said.But the truth of the matter, though, is that we averted a government shutdown in a way that allows the president to fund his priorities, and I think thats the story now, not what might happen in September.

Regardless of what waits later this year, the business at hand the House faces this week is still passing the omnibus. Forthat, Ryan and his team shouldnt count on too many conservatives, at least according to its most prominent members.

Were just doing what we told the voters we were going to do, nothing changes, Rep. Jim Jordansaid about his lack of support of the 2017 omnibus package.

The Ohio Republican did not agree that voting against the spending package would lessen leverage for the Freedom Caucus, which he used to chair, given its a bill Trump must sign.

Jordans feelings on the bill were clear: with a thumbs down, he said it stinks.

- John T. Bennett and Kellie Mejdrich contributed to this report.Contact Rahman at remarahman@cqrollcall.com or follow her on Twitter at @remawriter

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House Conservatives on Omnibus: 'It Stinks' - Roll Call

In SC special election, GOP heads for runoff, Dems choose Parnell Charlotte Observer Last November, Mulvaney a prominent fiscal conservative and member of the often rebellious House Freedom Caucus was elected to a fourth term by nearly 20 percentage points over Democratic challenger Fran Person. Despite Mulvaney's strong win ... and more »

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In SC special election, GOP heads for runoff, Dems choose Parnell - Charlotte Observer

Corey A. DeAngelis is a Policy Analyst at the Cato Center for Educational Freedom. He is also a Distinguished Doctoral Fellow and Ph.D. student in Education Policy at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and a Policy Advisor for the Heartland Institute.

His research focuses on the effects of educational choice programs on student achievement and non-academic outcomes such as criminal activity, political and economic freedom, schooling supply, and fiscal impacts. Corey has published several studies on educational choice programs with organizations such as the School Choice Demonstration Project, Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of School Choice, and has been cited by the Wall Street Journal. His work is also featured at the Foundation for Economic Education, EdChoice, and Education Next.

He additionally holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Corey A. DeAngelis - Cato Institute

Benjamin Franklin, one of the six signed endorsers of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, scribed these words: The first responsibility of citizenship is to question authority.

He never lived in the Town of New Canaan where a budget referendum might have resulted in a public thrashing on the village green.

In 2013, after a career at CBS Television Network sales of over three decades, I began to research the dramatic rise in the assessment of property taxes since moving to New Canaan nearly a quarter century ago. Through the vigorous application of the use of the Freedom of Information Act, a group of public advocates began to amass a database for analysis which set forth the course of action for the intent to have a referendum vote to reject the 2017-2018 budget approved on April 5.

It took nearly five years of persistent research and data analysis to discover that the NCPS submission of their budgets estimates to estimates was not an acceptable methodology by any generally accepted accounting principle.

The rate of increase in the spending by the NCPS was inflated because the numbers were not compared to full-year actual spending from the prior year until long after the budget for the following fiscal year was approved.

My requests to reform this antiquated budgeting system never received a single emailed response from the Board of Finance or Town Council members during this five year period. Silence is not an answer. Ergo, a referendum is the only way to have accountability for spending administration by the taxpayers as stakeholders in this municipal corporation.

The referendum question proposed on petitions which require 688 signatures from registered voters (5% of the 13,800) seeks to have the Board of Finance to return a budget subject to taxation for the fiscal year 2017-2018 of $131.65 million.

The budget subject to taxation as approved on April 5 for the fiscal year 2017-2018 by the Town Council is $4.8 million higher than the $131.65 million for taxation purposes for fiscal year 2016-2017.

There are four matters of reconsideration in the petition that provides a roadmap to a flat budget:

Any referendum should not be viewed as a personal attack on any public servants competency. Consistent with the Town Charter provisions, vox populi (the voice of the people) do maintain rights to weigh in on property taxes gone wild.

There are less than 20 people who vote upon the budget. More than 7,850 property owners are impacted by their decisions.

A municipality is just that an incorporated entity that may require periodic review by stakeholders as taxpayers.

In the fiscal year 2015-2016 audit, nearly $3.2 million was discovered by the town auditors on the books of the NCPS including unspent funds appropriated and a non-disclosed salary account.

There are also legal rights of electors to seek answer to questions posed to elected BOE in a petition requiring fifty signatures pursuant to C.G.S. 10-238 to seek answers to questions about transparency and best practices within 21 days of the verification of the signatures before the referendum.

Fifty signatures were collected within six days of the budget passage on April 5 and have been verified by the Town Clerk as signatures of electors. Another 650 signatures are needed to move the referendum question into position for a vote by the electors no later than June 12.

A white paper on achieving the funding of needed appropriations by alternative means than taxation can be acquired by emailing me at [emailprotected] or attending public forums to be announced between now and May 8.

Thomas Jefferson wrote as a Founding Father: All that tyranny needs to gain a threshold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.

Only a budget referendum will signal the end tax tyranny in the Next Station to Heaven.

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Questioning authority and getting no response, a 'referendum is the only way' - New Canaan Advertiser

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

A short-term spending agreement to keep the federal government open for another week overwhelmingly passed Congress on Friday.

The House voted 382 to 30 on Friday to approve the deal and the Senate unanimously approved it a short time later. House and Senate negotiators are set to work through the weekend to finalize a longer-term deal that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year in September.

Top staff and leaders on the appropriations committees had tried late Thursday to reach a longer agreement but were unable to resolve differences on several unrelated policy measures that have plagued the process since the beginning, according to several congressional aides familiar with the talks.

Were willing to extend things for a little bit more time in hopes that the same sort of progress can be made, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday morning.

A late push to act on new health-care legislation had threatened the bipartisan spending deal and for now that debate remains in flux.

Leaving a 90-minute meeting in the office of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) late Thursday night, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said there would be no health-care vote Friday and that the main focus of the impromptu huddle was to ensure that the leadership had the votes to pass the one-week funding bill.

We are not voting on health-care tomorrow, McCarthy said, denying that leaders had ever wanted to vote by Friday.

Were still educating members, he said, adding: Weve been making great progress. As soon as we have the votes, well vote on it.

[House Republicans fall short in scramble for vote on new health-care proposal]

On Friday morning, House GOP leaders were closing in on the votes needed to pass a health overhaul, but no vote is expected in the coming days, according to a senior House GOP aide who was not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing discussions.

The failure to revive the health-care bill was yet another blow to President Trump as he nears the 100-day mark on Friday. While congressional leaders in both parties focused this week on keeping the government open, Trump, Vice President Pence and other top administration officials launched dual attempts to pressure Republican lawmakers into a new agreement to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

In recent weeks, Trump plowed into health-care negotiations not only by wooing members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus but by trying to forge a bond with Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), the co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, a group of moderate Republicans. He was the only moderate represented in the recent talks.

Instead of delving into details, MacArthur and Trump would often talk about the presidents late father, Fred, whose black-and-white portrait sits alone and prominent on a desk in the Oval Office.

I knew his father for many years and have handled his insurance, MacArthur, a former insurance executive, said. Fred had thousands of apartments in Brooklyn and Id go out with him to settle claims, sitting in the back of the car with him and talking.

Trump also relished stories of Fred and I getting sandwiches, he added. I told him I saw that same decisive way, the same humor.

By last weekend, the amendment crafted by MacArthur to give states flexibility over insurance regulations and mandates became the crux of the White Houses deal with the Tuesday Group and the Freedom Caucus, with MacArthur at the center.

MacArthur said there is more of Fred in Trump than people realize: He reached out again and again, in determination.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a senior member of the Freedom Caucus, said Vice President Pence also has been crucial in keeping the relationship between the White House and that bloc strong in the wake of the health-care bill falling apart last month. I dont know how many meetings Ive had with him, Jordan said. Its been unbelievable.

Jordan said Pence, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price all former House GOP lawmakers and longtime House aide Paul Teller, who now works at the White House, have been constantly working the Freedom Caucus for the last two weeks, often bypassing House Republican leadership as theyve worked to revise the bill to his caucuss liking. Weve talked and talked, and theyve talked with Mark Meadows, the HFC chairman, every day.

Jordan said Trump has concentrated on working Meadows while Pence has been more in touch with Jordan and other members.

There was a while where the vice president was on Capitol Hill every day and over the recess, theyve been keeping up with everybody by phone. Remember, the vice president was someone who was a mentor to many of us, he knows the House.

But the stalled talks demonstrated yet again how divided Republicans remain about how to overhaul Obamacare, despite seven years of GOP promises to repeal and replace the 2010 law. Conservatives and moderates have repeatedly clashed over the contours of such a revamp, most sharply over bringing down insurance premiums in exchange for limiting the kind of coverage that is required to be offered.

As many as 15 or so House Republicans have said that they will not support the latest GOP proposal. That leaves Ryan and the White House an incredibly narrow path for passage. The speaker can lose only 22 Republicans on a health-care vote because Democrats have fiercely opposed any attempt to repeal the current health care law.

This weeks spending standoff is the first in what could be several budget battles between Congress and the White House this year. Trump has called for massive hikes to defense spending and harsh cuts to domestic agencies in his 2018 budget, a proposal that many Republicans have rejected out of hand. He is also likely to revive calls for money to begin constructing the border wall which by some estimates would cost as much as $21 billion in future budget negotiations.

Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) were forced to negotiate with Democrats on the budget after it became clear that Republicans lacked enough votes to pass a long-term spending bill on their own. As a result, the GOP leaders have had the uncomfortable task of writing a measure that ignores nearly all of Trumps priorities, including money for the border wall.

David Weigel and Paul Kane contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost

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Congress passes spending deal to keep the federal government open another week - Washington Post

The Fiscal Times

Renewed Fight Over Obamacare Could Prompt Government Shutdown The Fiscal Times But the political dynamic abruptly changed on Wednesday, after members of the arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus that blocked an earlier Trump-GOP bill to dismantle Obamacare announced they would support a new, more conservative version ... Conservatives Ask Will 'Yes' or 'No' Show More Support for Border Wall?Roll Call House Republicans are (still) at war with themselvesCNN HHS secretary: How the GOP's health-care solution aims to keep Americans from falling through the cracksCNBC Canada Free Press -CBS News -Yahoo Finance -Vox all 713 news articles »

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Renewed Fight Over Obamacare Could Prompt Government Shutdown - The Fiscal Times

In March, the Government of Ukraine (GoU) enacted a ban on all trade with businesses or other entities in non-government controlled areas (NGCAs) and blocked cargo from crossing the contact line after self-proclaimed authorities seized control of all Ukrainian companies based in NGCAs and declared the contact line as a state border, the UN reports.

State/PRM partner the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relief agencies continue to advocate for the GoU to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) maintain full access to pensions and social benefits, particularly including individuals residing in their original homes in NGCAs. UNHCR is also calling for increased civilian protection and freedom of movement across the contact line.

Persistent fighting and shelling in eastern Ukraine continues to damage critical water and electrical facilities despite repeated calls on parties to the conflict to respect civilian infrastructure and de-militarize areas adjacent to the contact line to allow safe repairs. Nearly 1.2 million people risk losing a sustained supply of safe drinking water, according to the UN.

On March 29, GoU representatives and self-proclaimed authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts renewed an agreement to fully adhere to a holiday ceasefire established in late December 2016 during a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, which comprises Government of the Russian Federation, GoU, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representatives. Meeting participants also agreed to complete the withdrawal of weapons by April 1. However, USG sources have reported increased armaments on both sides along the conflict line, with no withdrawal of weapons reported as of April 20.

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Ukraine - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 - Reliefweb

With just hours to spare, Congress easily approved a short-term spending bill Friday that would prevent a partial federal shutdown over the weekend. But on President Donald Trump's 99th day in office, lawmakers were leaving until next week without completing two other measures he's coveted: A Republican health care overhaul and a budget financing government for the entire year.

The Senate sent the temporary spending measure to Trump by voice vote after the House approved it by a lopsided 382-30 vote. The bill keeps the government functioning through next Friday, which leaders hope will give bipartisan bargainers enough time to finish a $1 trillion package financing government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

But in a disappointment for the White House, Trump was destined to serve his 100th day in office Saturday without being able to claim victories on health care and a yearlong budget.

The White House had pressured GOP leaders to push legislation replacing President Barack Obama's health care law through the House this week, in time for Trump to claim bragging rights by the symbolic 100th day. But late Thursday, House leaders abandoned that effort for now after falling short of the votes they would need for passage.

"As soon as we have the votes, we'll vote on it," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters.

The struggle over both bills was embarrassing to the GOP, which has Trump in the White House and majorities in Congress. Republicans would have preferred to not be laboring to keep agencies functioning or approve a health care overhaul, the gold standard of GOP campaign promises for the past seven years.

On the spending bill, minority Democrats had threatened to withhold support for the temporary spending bill unless there was a bipartisan deal on the long-term $1 trillion measure. But they voted for it anyway, citing expectations that disagreements would be resolved.

Most core decisions about agency budgets have been worked out, but unrelated policy issues such as a Democratic request to help the cash-strapped government of Puerto Rico with its Medicaid burden are among the holdups.

Republicans still pressed for policy wins with so-called riders related to abortion, environmental regulations, and curbing new financial rules. But Democrats, whose votes are needed to pass the measure, pushed back.

The bipartisan budget talks had progressed smoothly after the White House dropped a threat to withhold payments that help lower-income Americans pay their medical bills and Trump abandoned a demand for money for a border wall with Mexico.

With neither party savoring a federal shutdown, it seemed likely Congress would approve the week-long stopgap measure in time to keep agencies open.

On the separate health care bill, House Republican leaders are still scrounging for votes from their own rank-and-file to rescue it.

At least 18 Republicans, mostly moderates, said they oppose the health care legislation and many others remained publicly uncommitted. That puts party elders in an uncomfortable spot because if 22 Republicans defect, the bill will fail, assuming all Democrats oppose it.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wants to avoid an encore of last month's embarrassment, when he abruptly canceled a vote on a health care overhaul at that time because of opposition from moderates and conservatives alike.

Republicans have recast it to let states escape a requirement under President Barack Obama's 2010 law that insurers charge healthy and seriously ill customers the same rates. They could also be exempted from Obama's mandate that insurers cover a list of services like hospitalization and substance abuse treatment and from its prohibition against charging older customers more than triple their rates for younger ones.

The overall legislation would cut the Medicaid program for the poor, eliminate Obama's fines for people who don't buy insurance and provide generally skimpier subsidies. Centrist Republicans were the primary target of lobbying by the White House and GOP leaders seeking the 216 votes they would need to clinch passage of the health measure.

On Wednesday, conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus announced their support for the revised health legislation. That reversed the conservatives' opposition to the earlier edition of the legislation. __ AP reporters Erica Werner, Andrew Taylor and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

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Congress passes short-term spending bill in effort to dodge shutdown - WBAL Baltimore

VIEW FROM THE PEW, by Sarah Johnson 2:31 p.m. CT April 26, 2017

Participants in last year's For God & Country event wave American flags at Broken Chains Freedom Church. This year's event will be May 19-20.(Photo: Contributed by BCFC)

One led Army troops into combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The other was burned and disfigured while fighting with Army forces in Iraq.

The two military heroes Shilo Harris and Col. Allen West - will headline the For God & Country event May 19 and 20 at Memorial Auditorium, presented by Broken Chains Freedom Church. Proceeds support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is the second year of For God & Country, an event that coincides with Armed Forces Day, Roy Boswell, pastor of Broken Chains, said. As a nation, we have strayed away from God and we have failed to realize how important our active military and our veterans are to us. If we dont teach our young people about this, who will?

A participant in last years Jericho Ride, presented by Broken Chains Freedom Church, proudly leads the way with flags flying on his motorcycle. This years ride will be part of the For God & Country weekend May 19-20. The event features the motorcycle ride and speaking events with military heroes Shilo Harris and Col. Allen West. Proceeds from For God & Country will support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.(Photo: Contributed by BCFC)

The weekend of activities kicks off with guest speaker Shilo Harris at 7 p.m. May 19. On May 20, the Bryan Tynker Gates Memorial Jericho Ride starts at Broken Chains, 5200 Henry Grace Freeway. First bike out is 9 a.m. Entry fee is $20. Motorcycle riders travel around the county, stopping to pray over the leadership and citizens of various towns. After the ride, bikers will escort Harris and West from Red River Harley Davidson to Memorial Auditorium with their flags flying. West will speak at 7 p.m.

Harris(Photo: Contributed photo)

Harris was patrolling a southern Iraqi roadway on Feb. 19, 2007, when his Humvee was struck by an IED. Moments later, three members of his crew were dead and Harris had sustained severe injuries that would alter the course of his life. For 48 days, he lay trapped in a medically-induced coma. He endured 60 surgeries with the unwavering devotion of his family. His is an inspiring story of living in the face of fear and trusting God.

Allen West grew up in Atlanta, where his father instilled in him a code of conduct that would guide the rest of his life. He led troops as an Army colonel, raised a loving family and served as a congressman in Floridas 22nd District. With his core values of family, faith, tradition, service, honor, fiscal responsibility, courage and freedom, he has emerged as a strong, politically conservative voice.

West(Photo: Contributed by Allen West)

We, Wichita Falls, are a military town and we have several retired military living here and we should be proud of that fact, Boswell said. Where would Wichita Falls be without Sheppard Air Force Base? Why cant Wichita Falls, a military town, do more than we are doing? We can and we hope that this event, For God & Country, along with other events here will help us to never forget how much they mean to us. Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you - Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.

For God & Country is a free event. Funds raised help support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as the National Veterans Health and Wellness Center in Angel Fire, NewMexico. For more information, visit the Facebook page For God & Country.

Join the Disciple Women group at Park Place Christian Church for Coffee with Jesus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at the church, 4400 Call Field Road.

There will be three break-out groups with speakers, including Energy and Colors, Vital Needs and a candle-making craft time. Lunch will be provided by the Disciple Women. Come and hear how to change the world around you by loving the you God created, Sarah Gordon, a member of Park Place, said.

Registration is $5. Deadline to register is May 1. For more information, call 692-0165.

When participants for the annual Walk for Life event gather on May 13, they will be helping the Pregnancy Help Center, with locations in Wichita Falls and Vernon, not only raise money but also celebrate a name change. The PHC is now The Center. The event will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. at Lucy Park, Pavilion, in Wichita Falls, and Calvary Baptist Family Life Center in Vernon.

We do so much more than free pregnancy testing, so we want to reflect that with our name, Vonetta Ferguson, director of The Center, said. This event is a chance to celebrate life and see old and new friends.

Free family events in Wichita Falls include face painting, balloon sculptures and music from the band Anchored, a music ministry of Anchor Baptist Church. In addition, there will be drawings for great gifts that morning for all participating children and adults. Chick-Fil-A will be on hand with chicken biscuits and the cow.

Proceeds from this walk will benefit The Center of Wichita Falls and Vernon. The nonprofit agency assists women, their children, and expectant fathers by offering the following free services: pregnancy testing, nurse verifications, sonograms, option consultations by a volunteer, Just One Mom to Another" and Moms Hang Time parenting classes, prenatal classes and Dads Boot Camp for expectant fathers. A new free service is testing for sexually transmitted infections. For more information, call The Center at 322-4883 or 761-3432.

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Military heroes to headline For God & County event - Times Record News

Can conservatives vote for a government spending bill that does not include funding for a border wall?

Thats the question House Freedom Caucus members asked themselves Wednesday night as they debated how best to show President Donald Trump that they back his border wall proposal given that the funding bill is not expected to include money the Trump administration had requested for the wall.

They are likely to have more time to work out an answer. Ashort-term continuing resolution to maintain government operations through May 5 was introduced late Wednesday.

Several Freedom Caucus members told Roll Call after the meeting that theyre wrestling with which vote a yes or a no would show the most support for Trump and better the chances the wall be funded down the road.

Trump has apparently agreed to drop demands to fund the wall in the current fiscal year and to push for wall funding in fiscal 2018. So a yes vote could signal that conservatives support the president, something theyre still cautious about ensuring they do after Trump pointed blame at the Freedom Caucus for the health care impasse (their position on that shifted in Trumps favor earlier Wednesday).

But a yes vote on the spending bill could also send the wrong message that conservatives dont care about funding the wall. And a no is certainly more in line with where conservatives are expected to be given that many of their priorities appear to be already off the table.

We dont get the border wall and we dont get Planned Parenthood funding thats great; sign me up, Freedom Caucus board member Scott Perry said. Although his sarcastic tone was clear, he clarified that hes not happy about the deal thats being discussed.

It aint over yet, he said.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows told Roll Call the group did not take an official position on the spending bill, which has yet to be released, but that they discussed how best to show support for the president on the border wall.

There is a real concern that voting for a CR that doesnt fund the border wall sends the entirely wrong message on behalf of conservative thought, he said.

The border wall is not the only issue of concern for conservatives. They would also like to see language prohibiting federal funds for sanctuary cities, especially in light of the recent District Court ruling against Trumps executive order that sought to prevent assistance to sanctuary cities, Meadows said.

Both of those things have to be addressed and need to be addressed, the North Carolina Republican said.

The question remains whether to push for these things in fiscal 2017 or live to fight on them another day, especially on the wall, which was one of Trumps top campaign priorities.

We have to figure out a way to make sure that he funds it, and make sure that we dont allow 48 Democrats in the Senate to control the next four years, Meadows said.

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Conservatives Ask Will 'Yes' or 'No' Show More Support for Border Wall? - Roll Call