Trump’s executive action on wall wouldn’t surprise US Rep. Andy Biggs

PHOENIX – As another federal shutdown looms, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs can easily see President Donald Trump taking executive action over border security.

“He doesn’t have to declare an emergency, but I think he’s going to take executive action with a portion of the border and that will have people passing a [continuing resolution],” U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said Thursday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Chad Benson Show.

This week, Trump, who has talked about declaring a national emergency to get a wall built between the U.S. and Mexico, said he had “set the stage” to take action on his own if lawmakers didn’t provide the funding.

Negotiators faced a Feb. 15 deadline to avert another partial government shutdown. The shutdown that ended Jan. 25 lasted a record 35 days.

“I would be stunned if they worked out a deal that was palatable to the president and the majority of the country,” Biggs said.

“I think we should pass a two-year [continuing resolution] … we get to the 2020 presidential election, maybe we don’t see a shutdown again,” he said.

“… But that’s just me,” Biggs said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that whatever deal was reached would not include money for the proposed wall.

“I think they’re going to put together a deal that looks like a skinny version of the Gang of Eight bill that was proposed a number of years ago that was met with universal disapprobation,” Biggs said.

He was referring to the first draft of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.

A bipartisan group of senators that included Arizona’s John McCain and Jeff Flake offered the bill to the full Senate, where it passed. House Republicans opposed the plan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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