Congressional negotiators dug in for a weekend of talks on a security plan that includes some sort of barrier on the U.S.-Mexican border, hoping to complete a deal to avert another government shutdown that’s also acceptable to President Donald Trump. Negotiators are homing in on a proposal with border barrier funding of between US$1.3 billion and US$2 billion, said a person familiar with the talks. The Mississippi lawmaker said some key details are still under negotiation, including the amount of money for barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Shelby met with Trump at the White House Thursday on border security., and said he believes a deal can be reached by Monday. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Friday the off-campus event would allow a “free exchange of thoughts and ideas.” The talks could focus more on longer-term issues, including the debt ceiling, than the pending border deal, lawmakers said.

Source: National Post February 09, 2019 21:22 UTC