Budget deal increases federal spending, no mention of Dreamers

Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 on Friday, which the president stated in a tweet will make the military stronger than ever before and give them everything and more – along with increasing spending in other non-defense areas.

Trump detailed the inclusion of other appropriation provisions as motivation for electing more Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections.

Included in the bill are multiple provisions increasing federal spending, including approximately $85 billion dollars for wildfire and hurricane recovery efforts. The bill also increases defense spending from about $550 billion dollars to about $629 billion dollars and increases non-defense spending from about $516 billion dollars to about $579 billion dollars.

Had the bill not suspended the Budget Control Act of 2011, the increases would exceed limits by about 2.4 billion for defense spending and about 4 billion for non-defense spending and would require sequestration – the process where a percentage of funds are held by the Treasury Department from their respective government recipients.

A collection of 93 businesses, scientific and engineering societies and universities authored a letter Tuesday addressed to each of the members of congressional leadership, urging Congress to reach a bipartisan deal that increases investments in innovation.

“America’s leadership is being tested and a renewed commitment to innovation is urgently needed,” the letter said. “Previously unrivaled, the U.S. innovation ecosystem has driven our country’s economic strength and global leadership for more than 50 years, but today our international competitors are taking pages from the American playbook and investing in their domestic innovation ecosystems.”

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, spoke against the increases passing the budget caps in a speech that caused funds lapsing at 12:01 a.m. Friday and the government’s brief, second shut down of 2018. He then expressed his contempt in a press release later that morning.

“Tonight, you could feel the frustration and embarrassment growing in Congress as we exposed the hypocrisy of Republicans who are joining in an unholy alliance and spending free-for-all with Democrats at the expense of the American people and our party’s supposed principles,” he said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressed concerns in an approximately eight-hour speech on the budget and Dreamers – undocumented individuals brought to the United States as children and given protection under former President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. President Trump announced he would not continue the program, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, promised he would have debate on the matter this month.

Pelosi spoke of various stories from Dreamers and her refusal to back the budget deal if the same promise McConnell made is not made by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-WI.

"Without that commitment from Speaker Ryan, comparable to the commitment from Leader McConnell, this package does not have my support, nor does it have the support of a large number of members of our caucus,” she said.

The bill passed in the Senate 71-28 and in the House 240-186.

UNC expressed disappointment and sadness over President Trump’s decision on DACA last September in a community message signed by Chancellor Carol Folt and the rest of University leadership.

“This change in federal policy is contrary to our own and Carolina’s heartfelt commitment to all members of our community," the message said. "And it opens questions and concerns for students, their families, friends and others."

@CBlakeWeaver

state@dailytarheel.com