Exactly Who Is Paying For The Promised Wall?
[guest post by Dana]
Clearly not Mexico…
According to this report, the Trump administration is going to take $3.6 billion in military construction projects to build the border wall:
Defense Secretary Mark Esper informed congressional leaders on Tuesday of the cash grab from a total of 127 military projects. Roughly half the money will come from funds previously dedicated to upgrading military bases abroad and the other half in the United States.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Esper told him some of the money will come from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in his home state of New York.
This is a continuation of pulling money from different resources to fund Trump’s border wall:
Trump declared a national emergency in February in order to divert $8 billion from various federal accounts to build a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, including a Treasury Department fund and Defense Department efforts to interdict illegal drugs.
Tuesday’s announcement comes on top of $2.5 billion the Pentagon already diverted from its budget toward the border barrier this spring over objections from leaders on the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations committees.
The big picture:
In total, the military construction budget will fund 175 miles of border wall — a combination of new barricades and improvements to existing structures. The earliest construction could begin in about 100 days, Elaine McCusker, the Pentagon’s acting comptroller, told reporters.
She added that the first projects are likely to begin on land owned by the military, including the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range along the border in Arizona.
The roster of 127 projects the Pentagon is targeting to pay for the border wall has been winnowed down from a much longer list of $12.9 billion worth of projects in dozens of states, as well as several locations overseas.
Note: “…the the military construction projects being raided do not include family housing, military barracks and projects that have already been awarded or are expected to be awarded in fiscal 2019.”
It’s ironic to raid the defense budget for a border wall, no? Especially as Trump has repeatedly promised voters that Mexico would pay for one hundred percent of it:
Of course Trump is desperate to get moving on all manner of border security. He promised a big, beautiful wall in 2016, and he is still trying to deliver. With a new campaign in swing, and border security still a central plank, the need to make serious progress on it becomes even more critical.
Interestingly, Brian Kilmeade of Fox News and Friends made a surprising admission this morning about Trump promising voters that Mexico would pay for the wall:
Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade admitted on Thursday morning that President Donald Trump “never should have said” Mexico would pay for his border wall, a promise he made constantly during his 2016 campaign.
During a segment about backlash to the Trump administration using Pentagon money to fund the project, Kilmeade first attempted to highlight the hypocrisy of “the people that could not care less, as President Obama’s administration starved the military year after year and watched it rot away.”
But then he pivoted to the “sensationalist headlines” over the move, including one from The Daily Beast that read, “Trump Raids Elementary Schools to Pay for Wall; Mexico Off Hook.”
“He’s right,” Kilmeade said in response to that headline—though it’s unclear who he meant by “he” in that sentence. “The president never should have said Mexico was going to pay for the wall, though he says they’re going to get it in fees at border crossings.”
Amusingly, just last week, President Trump praised Kilmeade’s performance on the job. This came after Trump’s recent denouncement of Fox News:
“You’re a solid, I used to say, you’re a solid six or maybe seven,” Trump said. “But you’re getting much better. You’re getting great.”
Just counting down the minutes until Trump takes back everything he said about Kilmeade in a Twitter rant, and throws him in the Fox doghouse with the other Fox losers who have drawn the President’s ire for their disloyalty. After he’s done tweeting about Alabama and the damn map, that is…
P.S. Trump said today that the administration is projecting that 500 miles of border wall will be completed by the end of next year (just after the election). In spite of Mexico not paying for it, 500 more miles of wall will certainly go a long way to appease Trump’s base and border hawks.
(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (fdf131) — 9/5/2019 @ 2:10 pmSo the conclusion is that congress and the military wasted a large number of hours (and more than a couple of dollars) in developing budgets to accomplish specific objectives related to actual defense and the well-being of our armed forces.
Will they have enough left to purchase a Magic 8-ball, which appears to be the most reliable budgeting approach at this point?
John B Boddie (11ac33) — 9/5/2019 @ 2:35 pmmore hope and wishing,
https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/05/nyt-reporter-peddles-anti-trump-conspiracy-theory-over-adp-jobs-report/
narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2019 @ 3:00 pmWho’s payin’?
‘Walla Walla, Washington’ — that’s who.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/5/2019 @ 3:51 pmmostly pork barrel,
https://www.redstate.com/bonchie/2019/09/04/bulwark-conserves-conservatism-attacking-dan-crenshaw-white-knighting-aoc/
narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2019 @ 3:56 pmYeah, lets just stop building the wall and have open borders. Its “the conservative thing to do” -as Bernie Sanders would say. Maybe we can build a wall in Afganistan. It may cost $50 Billion but it’ll be worth it -to complete our mission. Whatever that is!
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/5/2019 @ 3:57 pm1. Its so terrible that Trump is building a wall.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/5/2019 @ 3:59 pm2. Yes, and what’s even worse, he’s built so little of it.
I’m looking forward to Romney-Kasich in 2024 and making American Great again!
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/5/2019 @ 4:00 pm** waves arms **
Paul Montagu (a2342d) — 9/5/2019 @ 4:17 pmOoh, I know! It’s me! I’m paying for the fricking wall! Yippee!
Finally something to look at for your money.
mg (8f83ac) — 9/5/2019 @ 4:35 pmWe throw enough money down the military-industrial complex’s insatiable maw. The wall money is money better spent.
nk (dbc370) — 9/5/2019 @ 5:15 pmWe’re still throwing the same amount of money down the military-industrial complex’s insatiable maw. Our military contracts with civilian businesses are committed to years ahead of time. This money is definitely coming from something else (apparently part of it from DoDs schools?).
Nic (896fdf) — 9/5/2019 @ 5:34 pmMaybe Eisenhower meant “military contracts with civilian businesses”, but the way I meant it was the entire military establishment along with the civilian industries it does business with.
nk (dbc370) — 9/5/2019 @ 5:46 pmI like border security. Trump dumbed it down to something easy to sell, than said Mexico would pay for it because everyone kind of knew it was a very good idea.
My objections to what’s currently doing on are mostly around how this increases the power of the executive branch. A more sophisticated white house will do all sorts of terrible things with this new power. Previously this was prevented through norms and expectations. Trump doesn’t care about those so the large government liberals will use this as precedent to do worse. The principle they will take from this and try to act on is “An emergency is whatever the president says it is and the president can reallocate certain budget categories to address an emergency.”
It’s a significant loss to limited government.
BTW, illegal immigration is down due to mexico helping stop the flow. But he’s not smart enough to work that into his brand so it’s all about ‘the wall that mexico will pay for.”
Time123 (36651d) — 9/5/2019 @ 5:50 pmhttps://pjmedia.com/trending/half-a-million-to-study-the-mating-calls-of-frogs-your-tax-dollars-at-work/
mg (8f83ac) — 9/5/2019 @ 6:07 pmribet
“BTW, illegal immigration is down due to mexico helping stop the flow.“
Who asked the Mexicans to provide this assistance? Which reminds me… is there still a caravan coming up from Central America? I haven’t seen anything about that in the news, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/5/2019 @ 6:08 pm15… add some excitement into your love life, froggie-style…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/5/2019 @ 6:11 pm“Previously this was prevented through norms and expectations. Trump doesn’t care about those so the large government liberals will use this as precedent to do worse.”
Time123 (36651d) — 9/5/2019 @ 5:50 pm
I’m certain big govt libs have been constrained by “norms and expectations” and “precedent” in some alternate universe somewhere, so who’s to say you’re wrong.
Munroe (732181) — 9/5/2019 @ 6:20 pmBuild the wall. Teach people it’s not okay to invade. Thanks.
NJRob (574b63) — 9/5/2019 @ 7:12 pmGot an example of a Dem (or any previous president) using Emergency Powers in a similar way? No? Didn’t think you did. So bit by bit the government get’s more power to do as it wants without the constraints built into our system.
Time123 (daab2f) — 9/5/2019 @ 7:13 pmBTW, illegal immigration is down due to mexico helping stop the flow.“
Who asked the Mexicans to provide this assistance? Which reminds me… is there still a caravan coming up from Central America? I haven’t seen anything about that in the news, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/5/2019 @ 6:08 pm
Trump did, took him a couple of years and he wasn’t exactly smooth at it but eventually he got around to it.
I wonder if cutting aid to central america made this problem any worse? Hard to say for sure.
Time123 (daab2f) — 9/5/2019 @ 7:15 pm“Got an example of a Dem (or any previous president) using Emergency Powers in a similar way? No? Didn’t think you did.”
Time123 (daab2f) — 9/5/2019 @ 7:13 pm
Yes, actually. Plenty. Oh wait — “in a similar way”. Wiggle room noted.
Munroe (732181) — 9/5/2019 @ 7:54 pm“Any difficulties in securing either their cooperation or wall construction, of course, can be laid entirely at the feet of the Democrats and increasingly criminal Chamber of Commerce Republicans, to say nothing of the precious widdle NeverTrumpers who constantly post like these not-so-invisible hands don’t exist.”
That’s something like 70% of the country. If 70% of the country doesn’t want something, there should be some difficulty in making them have it. Democracy anyone?
Nic (896fdf) — 9/5/2019 @ 9:21 pmSure, if you can’t do what you say and get Mexico to pay for it, can’t get Congress to agree to pay for it, when the president’s party was in control of it for 2 of the last 3 years, and the public doesn’t want it. Sure, then declare a fake emergency and take money that was Constitutionally directed, and use it for something that was specifically refused in the constitutionally mandated way.
Are you arguing for dictatorial rule, only planning by the central committee, or the crown? It’s like you don’t even know what that whole tea party thing was about, you know, the first one, before that pesky piece of parchment was written on and signed by those guys, like, a long time ago.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (6e7a1c) — 9/5/2019 @ 9:51 pmAnd 73.6% of statistics are made up. At least I’m quoting an article for my BS.
https://www.businessinsider.com/736-of-all-statistics-are-made-up-2010-2
NJRob (4d595c) — 9/5/2019 @ 10:29 pmWhat percentage do you think the groups are? 48% voted for Clinton, so that’s the floor, because I suspect they don’t approve of Trump in any way, given that they voted for Clinton. Trump’s ceiling of approval is 45%, so that’s another 7% above the Clinton votes. 55% disapproval of Trump, floor. Some of Trump’s approval rating is based on his judge appointments and not at all on his wall. What do you think? Are Never Trumpers and Chamber of Commerce criminals more or less than 15% of the voters? which would then get us to 70%?
Nic (896fdf) — 9/5/2019 @ 10:40 pmOh and only 34% want a wall at all. https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/423709-poll-shows-americans-are-split-on-feelings-toward-border-wall
How many of those do you think approve of these particular tactics? I’d be not all 34%. How close are we to 70% now?
Nic (896fdf) — 9/5/2019 @ 10:45 pmOn the 10% chance you’re not a troll and didn’t get it from context
Similar way means Non-Time Critical, A major political goal for the president, and congress had already had time to respond but chosen not to.
I’m not concerned about Obama issuing sanctions against Somali Pirates or the Kadafi family. But now that I’ve taken the ambiguity out, can you find an example?
Time123 (89dfb2) — 9/6/2019 @ 5:20 amObama didn’t use emergency powers, he just did it. The U.S. Treasury Department has rebuffed a request by House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., to explain $3 billion in payments that were made to health insurers even though Congress never authorized the spending through annual appropriations.
At issue are payments to insurers known as cost-sharing subsidies. These payments come about because President Obama’s healthcare law forces insurers to limit out-of-pocket costs for certain low income individuals by capping consumer expenses, such as deductibles and co-payments, in insurance policies. In exchange for capping these charges, insurers are supposed to receive compensation.
bud (b48f3e) — 9/6/2019 @ 9:04 amThe implicit assumption appears to be that $ diverted from the military is a waste.
If offered a choice between
(1), another $3 billion Zumwalt destroyer, with no workable guns, poor stability and eye-watering costs (a floating F-111);
(2) another $13 billion “sitting duck” carrier, (with non-working elevators for now),
(3) more funds for diversity training, “renewable” practice rounds, and NATO “position paper” staffers in Brussels;
(4) a wall at our border;
I’m going with 4.
Who thinks Nos. 1-3 are a superior use of defense dollars?
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:16 am24/28: Care to have that vote on other topics? Abortion? Cutting sociology departments/gender studies from colleges? Anchor baby citizenship?..
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:19 am#31, I think spending billions on a wall at the southern border is very inefficient use of funds. it’s not like it’ll make us less safe, but it’s not going to have a big impact on illegal immigration. Haven’t looked into any of the other items. But you want to cut spending there I’m all ears.
Time123 (353edd) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:24 am32… that was just plain mean.
Colonel Haiku (111e13) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:28 amwell the littoral combat ship seems to have been designed by homer simpson, now there have been overall shortages of materiel and personnel, as evidenced by the uss McCain and other mishaps, it wasn’t an accident that Obama came up with the sequester, that hit the armed services hard,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:31 am@ 35 The budget sequestration was implemented by an act of (a republican) congress in 2012, not by an executive order by president Obama. At the time it was regarded as a draconian firewall that could not possibly be activated.
John B Boddie (11ac33) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:47 am36… untrue. Dems controlled Senate, Republicans controlled the house
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 10:59 am$700 Billion Defense budget. $3.5 Billion for the Wall. OMG, only $696.5 Billion for Defense Budget. America is at the ChiCom’s mercy!
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/6/2019 @ 11:24 amAmericans want a wall. Everyone poll supports it. But the Chamber of Commerce, the Never trumpers, and the Liberal Democrats don’t. What an alliance for open borders! Communists and Plutocrats.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/6/2019 @ 11:26 amapparently,
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/06/trump-putting-military-money-toward-border-wall-may-hurt-gop-in-2020.html
narciso (d1f714) — 9/6/2019 @ 11:37 am#39, you says everyone and than list 3 groups that don’t….you might want to double check what ‘everyone’ means.
Time123 (89dfb2) — 9/6/2019 @ 11:57 am34: ..but fair!
33: Any reduction in anchor babies is a benefit: Los Angeles County alone spend over $1b annually in benefits for families with US citizen kids. Schools are packed, apartments full, and state benefits are not counted in that calculus. (Although I suspect that if illegals voted for small government, did not hunger for benefits, and voted 70% GOP, the issue might be seen differently).
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 9/6/2019 @ 12:12 pm@42, oh for sure! As soon as the political benefit flipped the usual hacks would follow right along.
For examples
Lefties talking about states rights with respect to California air quality rules.
Conservatives ignoring fiscal discipline when the GOP is in the white house.
Tribalists wouldn’t care as long as their team got a ‘win’.
Time123 (89dfb2) — 9/6/2019 @ 12:20 pmWho thinks Nos. 1-3 are a superior use of defense dollars?
Number 4 is just as wasteful. And since it is not appropriated by Congress, worse.
Kishnevi (ceb37f) — 9/6/2019 @ 12:49 pm“Who thinks the president knows better than congress” is such a poor argument for ignoring the separation of powers when Trump is leading us into the arms of the Warren administration.
We don’t really need congress at this point. Their laws don’t matter. And if someone cheats at an election, and the president works hard to obstruct any investigation about it, you can’t indict him. So what is the USA now? Trump fans roll their eyes because they like the president enough to forgive the expansion of the executive, but it won’t be long before they are completely flip flopping on this.
Trump didn’t have the leadership ability, or the trustworthiness, to accomplish his promise to make “great deals” on immigration law, obamacare, or the deficit. But he needs something to bring to the election to pretend he kept that promise, so it’s crap like this. Crap that will be undone by the next stroke of the next guy (I think gal’s) pen.
Dustin (6d7686) — 9/6/2019 @ 1:24 pmwhats next locusts,
https://saraacarter.com/leprosy-could-be-the-next-public-health-crisis-to-hit-los-angeles/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug
narciso (d1f714) — 9/6/2019 @ 1:29 pmIt’s the 1,032nd day that Hillary Clinton will never be POTUS.
Rejoice, sentient folk!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 1:34 pm“Tribalists wouldn’t care as long as their team got a ‘win’.”
Time123 (89dfb2) — 9/6/2019 @ 12:20 pm
NeverTrump doesn’t count as a tribe because it’s been one loss after another.
Munroe (732181) — 9/6/2019 @ 1:36 pmnot even sure what nevertrump is. Romney’s biggest fanboys hate him now and love Trump, so it’s basically just RINOs who don’t find anything shady about a GOP presidential candidate who endorsed Hillary one day and wants to lock her up the next.
Dustin (6d7686) — 9/6/2019 @ 2:17 pmRomney seeking Trump’s endorsement one day, and virtue signalling his revulsion the next doesn’t sound shady at all.
Munroe (732181) — 9/6/2019 @ 2:24 pmhe took a dive then, like McCain, the only difference his running mate was more basenghi
https://www.steynonline.com/9719/a-mockery-of-justice
narciso (d1f714) — 9/6/2019 @ 2:30 pmDon’t look at me. I’m not one of the many Trump fans who swore up and down that Romney was a great man, a great leader, a man of incredible character.
while you guys might think I’m a never trumper, I just have no patience for liars in politics. Everyone happily points this out if it helps their team, but a lot of nevertrumpers don’t have a team. Nevertrumpers criticized Romney, Hillary, Obama, and Trump, because at the end of the day, they have more in common than they have different. They all would say anything to get more power. None of them respect our form of government or way of life. None of them even understand what America is about, or love this country. Maybe Trump is a little more hilarious about it than the others, but he is a caricature of Romney, not a departure.
Go read the comments from the Romney election. Never Trumpers couldn’t stand him. Trump’s most loyal defenders loved him. Because Team R, I suppose, though there’s also something about licking boots between the lines. I’d rather have no party if being in one means I need to pretend I like any of these clowns.
Dustin (6d7686) — 9/6/2019 @ 2:47 pmI can’t wait for 2024, when self-styled principled conservatives finally settle on a candidate who never lies, is totally above board, not shady in the least, and can poll above 2%.
Munroe (732181) — 9/6/2019 @ 2:58 pmwhat no second look at joe walsh, that was a dumpsterfire, even his campaign wasn’t on board, so the Maryland atty general, makes excuses for criminals who would have thought, but they are after the right target, orange mad bad, that’s what matters,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:19 pmMonroe, found that example yet?
Time123 (d54166) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:23 pmmittens/gruber/2020
mg (8f83ac) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:25 pmThe backbenchers continue to lash out after Muh Collusion, Muh Obstruction, Muh Traitor, Muh This, Muh That have all failed miserably. Now all they seem to want to do is ineffectually b*tch and whine.
Kind of sad…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:29 pm“Monroe, found that example yet?”
Time123 (d54166) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:23 pm
You seek an answer from a “troll”? Odd.
Munroe (732181) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:29 pmThe Bulwark Brigade…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:30 pmMonroe, I said there was a chance you were arguing in good faith.
Time123 (00e5cb) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:39 pmI’m delighted the “Never Trumpers” have shown us they “Don’t belong to a tribe”. It makes it much easier to ignore their advice on how the “Republican tribe” and “Right-wing Tribe” should behave. Of course, the Liberal/Democrat tribes don’t care what the “Never Trumpers” say about anything. And never have.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:41 pmIs there a name more evoking of tribe than “NeverTrump”? And, they coined it themselves. LOL!!
Munroe (732181) — 9/6/2019 @ 3:49 pmIf one could buy NeverTrumpernistas for what they’re worth and sell them for what they think they’re worth, one could make a small fortune.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 4:03 pmCome to think of it, one could pay for some of dat wall!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/6/2019 @ 4:04 pmWho said nevertrump wasn’t a tribe?
Time123 (c1ee0f) — 9/6/2019 @ 4:43 pmAlso, Monroe have you found that example yet?
Time123 (c1ee0f) — 9/6/2019 @ 4:44 pmMeh… Trump’s using legit powers afforded by Congress via the Emergency Act. If they have a problem with it, then do something about it and pass a law to fix it. I absolutely have zero sympathy for those who complain.
For the record, I don’t believe any POTUS should have this ability either, but it isn’t illegal either.
whembly (4605df) — 9/6/2019 @ 5:08 pm#65 Glad you agree “never trumpers” are a tribe. And agree they are hypocrites for attacking “tribalism”.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/7/2019 @ 8:47 amhttps://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2019/09/06/ny-times-writer-insomniahas-plagued-me-cursed-night-trump-won
narciso (d1f714) — 9/7/2019 @ 9:51 am@32 We did in fact vote on government funding abortion and birthright citizenship through our elected representatives. Which, you will remember, rejected funding the wall.
Nic (896fdf) — 9/7/2019 @ 11:33 amminions of moloch or kali, were you not paying attention,
https://saraacarter.com/scandal-head-of-un-communications-incites-illegal-entry-into-u-s-says-its-never-a-crime/
narciso (d1f714) — 9/7/2019 @ 12:29 pmRC, I never said they were hypocrites for attacking tribalism, and I’ve never said they weren’t. Please don’t put words in my mouth. If you have an argument to make about consistency to principle than go ahead and make it.
Time123 (9f3102) — 9/8/2019 @ 3:29 pm