President Trump lashed out at Democrats over bipartisan spending bills making their way through Congress, and demanded that Republicans do more to ensure greater funding for border security, particularly for his proposed border wall with Mexico, reports the Wall Street Journal. “I want to know, where is the money for Border Security and the WALL in this ridiculous Spending Bill, and where will it come from after the Midterms? Dems are obstructing Law Enforcement and Border Security,” he said in a tweet on Thursday. The comments came two days after the Senate passed an appropriations package, the second grouping of spending bills, called a “minibus,” approved this month. The House is expected to take it up next week. The bill aims to boost spending for the next fiscal year for the opioid crisis, the Defense Department, and medical research. It funded other departments, including Justice and Homeland Security, through Dec. 7 to avoid a government shutdown before the midterm elections.
“We could knock that wall out in one year if they gave us the funds,” Trump said at a rally in Las Vegas, where he campaigned for Republican congressional candidates. Democrats stood by the bill, which will need bipartisan support to pass the House. “If President Trump wants to throw a temper tantrum by vetoing this bill, blocking pay for our troops, and shutting down the federal government, that is up to him,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), top Democrat on the House Appropriations panel. Republicans expect Trump to sign the bill. It gives states grants to help address the opioid epidemic, a move praised by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman. “These grants will help more people get the opioid treatment and mental health services they need, especially in rural areas and underserved communities,” he said.