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Maine's U.S. Senators: Border Wall Funding Issue Should Not Block Budget

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Collins says that there are areas along the Mexican border where a wall simply cannot be built, and that the budget has sufficient money to bolster security.

Congress has until Dec. 7 to pass the remaining bills to fund the federal government for the current budget year. President Trump is threatening to withhold his support unless his border wall is fully funded, something Maine's two U.S. senators oppose.Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, says following through on that threat would be a mistake.

“Government shutdowns are never a good idea," Collins says. "They represent the ultimate in failure to govern effectively and responsibly.”

Collins says there are areas along the Mexican border where a wall simply cannot be built and that the budget has sufficient money to bolster security.

Sen. Angus King, an independent, agrees, and says there will be bipartisan opposition in Congress if the president forces a partial shutdown of government over the issue.

“There is no reason to do it," he says. "There is plenty attention to border security.  Everyone wants strong borders but not everyone wants to waste a lot of money that in many places along the border is not necessary or makes sense.”

 

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.