House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows says it’s “time to fight” on border wall funding and urged President Trump to veto a stopgap spending bill that does not provide any money for it.
“They know that he’s promised not once, not twice but three different times that he would get border wall funding, and here we are about to punt,” Meadows said on “Fox & Friends” Thursday. “And I would argue, it’s not a punt. A punt actually helps improve the field advantage. This is a fumble.”
Meadows joined other conservative lawmakers reacting to a measure passed by the Senate late Wednesday to continue funding the government and avoid a shutdown as Trump initially threatened if Congress did not approve $5 billion in border security funding, which would also include funding for the border wall.
“If we’re not going to fight now, when are we going to fight?” Meadows asked, noting the difficulty of getting funding for the wall after Democrats take the House in January. “Now is the time to fight.”
Punting to Feb. 8 on a CR not only gives Democrats a Christmas present, it offers them a Valentine’s Day gift. Democrats will win, the wall will not be built, and Congress will once again have punted when we should’ve been taking a stand. The time to fight is now. Zero excuse.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) December 19, 2018
The North Carolina Republican pointed out that the American people, who still want the wall to be built on the U.S.-Mexico border, see that the president is getting “bad advice.”
“It’s what the vast majority of your viewers and the American people are saying. And it’s not that he is gutless, they believe that he is getting bad advice,” Meadows told Fox News host Ed Henry.
Meadows explained that the GOP “fumbled,” failing to secure funding for the wall despite having held the House, Senate and White House for nearly two years.
Tonight after votes, around 7:30pm, my @freedomcaucus colleagues and I will be on the House floor to demand Congress vote on a spending bill with border wall funding. We promised we would. It’s time to deliver. No more excuses.
We’re ready to fight.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) December 19, 2018
He also noted that a government shutdown would not be as apocalyptic as some fear, saying the “vast majority” of government would remain open. Meadows and his fellow House Freedom Caucus members reportedly plan to vote against a short-term bill that would fund the government until Feb. 8.
Today we have an opportunity to show the American people who we are. Do we stand up and fight for their interests? Or do we surrender before the hard work even starts–all for the sake of political convenience?
No more excuses. No more games. Stand up and fight.
— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) December 20, 2018
“The president many months ago said he wouldn’t sign another funding bill unless we gave him wall funding. So what did this House do? It passed a bill to fund the Department of Defense and passed a short-term [continuing resolution] CR and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to have that fight, but we’re going to have that fight after the midterms.’ You know what, Mr. Speaker? It’s after the midterms. And we’re here to say that we’re ready to fight on behalf of all the freedom-loving Americans to make sure we have secure borders,” Meadows told The Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday.
The American People asked $5B to fund National Security, Congress want to fund #corrupt governments in Mexico and Central America. Do our representatives know how to do simple math? #COMMONCOREMATH ?
RT if you are upset! pic.twitter.com/TLoMtvvUpx— Steve A. Von Loor (@steveavonloor) December 20, 2018
“Mr. President, we’re going to back you up. If you veto this bill we’ll be there. But more importantly the American people will be there. They’ll be there to support you. Let’s build the wall and make sure that we do our job in Congress,” Meadows added.
Others echoed the senator’s call.
I wanted let you know where I am on the government funding bill the House will be voting on later today:
1 – I will be voting against it.
2 – I am encouraging President Trump to veto it if it passes.
— Ted Budd (@RepTedBudd) December 20, 2018
If we are not willing to fight for a border wall now, do we really expect there to be a better opportunity when Nancy Pelosi is in power? Now is the time for us to draw a line in the sand and make a very clear contrast.
— Ted Budd (@RepTedBudd) December 20, 2018
The House Republican Conference is ready to fight on the wall. Let’s get the $5B vote on the floor – today!
— Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) December 20, 2018
.@RepMarkMeadows and @Jim_Jordan are right: If conservatives don't fight to do what they said, Americans will lose faith in the sincerity of conservatives' principles and their ability to implement them.
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) December 20, 2018
It remains to be seen if Republican lawmakers can effectively take care of the business Americans – and the president – expected them to address for the last two years.
Do it. Now. No more Lucy, Charlie Brown, and football! https://t.co/s2nFRVMNLl
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 20, 2018
*Update:
President Trump called for an impromptu meeting with Republican House members at the White House:
https://twitter.com/esaagar/status/1075787900544040962
Stay tuned!
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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