Mr. Trump initially estimated during the campaign that the wall would cost $12 billion, but the figure has soared since then. The White House has attributed that to Mr. Trump’s tough talk and bolstered enforcement. Since November, when Mr. Trump was elected, illegal crossings have fallen by nearly 75 percent. “I look forward to more productive conversations with senators, our House colleagues and the White House so that we can get this important work done soon.”But other issues remain. Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and other Democrats want those benefits extended, and miners have been a big constituency for Mr. Trump.

Source: New York Times April 25, 2017 16:05 UTC