Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

2 days ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

2 days ago

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto LA Freeway

2 days ago

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

2 days ago

California Man Safe After High-Tech Rescue From Behind Sequoia Waterfall

2 days ago

California Legislature’s Final Weeks Could Decide Delta Water Tunnel’s Fate

2 days ago

US Consumer Sentiment Weakens in August, Inflation Expectations Rise

2 days ago

Trump Names Rosner as Chair of Energy Regulator

3 days ago
Costa & McClintock Buck Their Leaders on Ending Government Shutdown
Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 8 years ago on
February 9, 2018

Share


News Analysis
by Bill McEwen
The passage of a bill in Friday’s early hours to end a brief federal government shutdown suggests how upside down American politics has become in the Trump era.
“Unlike similar measures Congress has passed in recent years to lift sequestration spending caps and suspend the debt ceiling, this one drew a limited amount of Republican opposition and minimal Democratic support,” Roll Call reported.
“Typically it’s just the opposite. A sizable number of House Republicans, usually a third to a half of the conference, would vote against such a deal. And the vast majority of Democrats would normally support it.”

See How They Voted

You can find the bill’s vote tally, H.R. 1892, at this govtrack.us link.
The bill passed 240-186 in the House, with two Valley congressmen, Democrat Jim Costa (Fresno) and Republican Tom McClintock (Elk Grove), voting differently than the leadership in their respective parties.

“This measure abandons any pretense of fiscal responsibility and increases federal spending caps by nearly . . . $2,400 per household over the next two years.” Rep. Tom McClintock

Among the Valley’s congressional delegation, Republicans Devin Nunes (Tulare), David Valadao (Hanford), Jeff Denham (Turlock) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Bakersfield) supported House Speaker Paul Ryan with “aye” votes.
But McClintock, a longtime critic of increasing the federal deficit, joined 66 other GOP members in opposition. The bill included $320 billion in deficit spending, much of it targeted at strengthening the military.
“This measure abandons any pretense of fiscal responsibility and increases federal spending caps by nearly . . . $2,400 per household over the next two years,” McClintock said in a statement. “It sets up a structure that will allow Congress to bypass its own budget rules and extends a laundry list of subsidies and special-interest tax breaks.
“Congress approved a massive tax reduction with my support in December.  It is essential for economic growth and is already having a dramatic positive effect on wages and business expansion.  However, having cut taxes, Congress has a keen responsibility to restrain spending growth – a responsibility it repudiates with this measure.”

“Speaker Ryan has said that he will bring the debate on Dreamer protections and immigration reform to the floor once we reach a budget agreement, and I will hold him to his word.” — Rep. Jim Costa

Seventy-Three Democrats Support Spending Bill

Costa joined 72 other Democrats in casting “aye” votes that helped cut short the second government shutdown since Jan. 20. Costa supported the bill even though House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s opposition included a record-breaking eight-hour speech on the House floor Wednesday.
Today the House of Representatives finally did its job: We passed a long-term budget that provides our military and government programs with the funding vital for protecting our national security, tackling the challenges facing our nation, and taking care of our children, our veterans, and our most vulnerable Americans,” Costa said in a news release.
Costa also noted that the bill included funding for efforts that would help the Valley and California. They include:

  • $7.8 billion for community health centers in Fresno, Madera and Livingston.
  • Continued funding for hospitals that serve all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. In Costa’s 16th District, these are Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, Mercy Medical Center in Merced and Madera Community Hospital.
  • Reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 10 years. The program covers tens of thousands of children in the 16th District.
  • $20 billion for infrastructure investment, including rural broadband expansion, improving surface transportation, and water and energy infrastructure projects.
  • $89 billion in additional disaster relief, including funds specifically designated to help California communities recover from 2017’s devastating wildfires.
  • $4 billion for programs that aid college affordability, including those that help police officers, teachers, and firefighters.

Speaker Ryan Promises Immigration Debate

Costa, a conservative Democrat, is unlikely to pay a political price in his district for opposing Pelosi. He could even get a boost from it. However, he could get pushback from immigrant groups that hoped to make protection of “Dreamers” part of the spending bill.
Costa’s response is that he has drawn a line in the sand: “Speaker Ryan has said that he will bring the debate on Dreamer protections and immigration reform to the floor once we reach a budget agreement, and I will hold him to his word.”
The Senate moved the bill to the House by passing it on a 71-28 vote Friday at 1:31 a.m. EST. California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris opposed the bill.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

What Can MLB Learn From the Savannah Bananas? A Lot, It Turns Out.

DON'T MISS

How Do We Bridge America’s New Segregation?

DON'T MISS

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

DON'T MISS

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

DON'T MISS

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

DON'T MISS

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

DON'T MISS

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

DON'T MISS

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

UP NEXT

How Do We Bridge America’s New Segregation?

UP NEXT

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

UP NEXT

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

UP NEXT

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

UP NEXT

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

UP NEXT

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

UP NEXT

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

UP NEXT

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

UP NEXT

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

UP NEXT

Pismo’s Manager Stuck in ICE Detention for Long Ago Teen Crime

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

1 day ago

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

1 day ago

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

1 day ago

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

1 day ago

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

2 days ago

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

2 days ago

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

2 days ago

Pismo’s Manager Stuck in ICE Detention for Long Ago Teen Crime

2 days ago

Complaint Filed Against Judge in NW Fresno Luxury Apartment Case

2 days ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

2 days ago

What Can MLB Learn From the Savannah Bananas? A Lot, It Turns Out.

BALTIMORE — The capacity crowd of more than 45,000 baseball fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards stood, celebrating a walk-off home run. Ther...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

What Can MLB Learn From the Savannah Bananas? A Lot, It Turns Out.

3D illustration, Symbolic image on the topic of division, exclusion
1 day ago

How Do We Bridge America’s New Segregation?

Micky MaKenzie, a bold yet sweet pup who loves belly rubs, car rides and playing with dogs of all sizes, is now recovered from surgery and ready for a forever home with his best buddy Sunny. (Mell's Mutts)
1 day ago

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

President Donald Trump holds a press conference following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
1 day ago

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

U.S. first lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 day ago

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and has developed into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, moves westward near Puerto Rico in a composite satellite image August 16, 2025. CIRA/NOAA/Handout via REUTERS
1 day ago

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

United States Department of State logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
1 day ago

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump goes to shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
2 days ago

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend