Trump overrules GOP with deal on spending, debt, Harvey aid

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump briskly overruled congressional Republicans and his own treasury secretary Wednesday to cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government operating and raise America’s debt limit. The immediate goal was ensuring money for hurricane relief, but in the process the president brazenly rolled his own party’s leaders.

Trump sided with the Democratic leaders Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi – as they pushed for the three-month deal, brushing aside the urgings of GOP leaders and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for a much longer extension to the debt limit. Republicans want that longer allowance to avoid having to take another vote on the politically toxic issue before the 2018 elections.

Asked whether he was surprised to see the president side with Democrats against his own party leadership, Sen. Mitch McConnell responded: “Look, the president can speak for himself, but his feeling was we needed to come together, not create a picture of divisiveness at a time of genuine national crisis, and that was the rationale.”