Senate passes spending and border security bill - Trump will sign but also declare a national emergency

The Senate on Thursday passed a broad spending and border security bill that will end a funding stalemate that has dragged on for nearly two months and caused the longest government shutdown in history. In a bipartisan vote, the Senate approved legislation that will fund dozens of departments and agencies for the rest of the fiscal year, and let the Trump administration spend $1.375 billion for fencing at the southern border. The fight over border barriers is what led to the 35-day shutdown, but the inclusion of new money for fencing wasn't enough to satisfy President Trump. The White House made clear just before the Senate vote that Trump would sign the bill, but also declare a national emergency in order to get access to more money. That move is likely to lead to legal challenges from Trump's opponents, but in the meantime, the funding legislation is expected to be passed by the House and then signed by Trump. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will clear the spending bill later today but said Trump risked setting a precedent by acting unilaterally to build border wall because any president might use it for initiatives the GOP opposes...MORE