(AP photo)WASHINGTON -- The White House and top lawmakers endorsed a US$1.1 trillion spending bill on Monday to carry the nation through September, erasing the threat of a disruptive government shutdown. The bill is slated for a House vote on Wednesday, with a Senate vote ahead of a Friday midnight deadline. Trump repeatedly insisted during the election campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall, a claim Mexican officials have vigorously rejected. The White House and some top GOP allies declared victory anyway, citing billions of dollars more for the military. Democrats had sought additional spending for nondefence accounts to match Pentagon increases above spending caps set by a 2015 budget pact negotiated with former president Barack Obama.

Source: Bangkok Post May 02, 2017 03:11 UTC