Congress punts on disaster help with Trump, Dems

Lawmakers are punting on trillions of disaster in the Midwest, Southeast and Puerto Rico as they leave Washington for two weeks without an agreement.

A gang of GOP Senators, including the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyReport: GOP senator once called Mulvaney 'the most dangerous man' in Washington Dems accused of seeking revenge for 2013 vote on hurricane relief Republicans say Democrats holding up disaster relief as 'Sandy payback' MORE (R-Ala.), Went to the White House on Thursday as part of an effort to make headway in the stalled talks.

But the meeting with President TrumpDonald John TrumpKoch Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's Trump's TrumpPuerto Rico during a closed-door luncheon with Republicans last month.

Instead, the disaster will help fight on the next month. The House adjourned on Wednesday, and senators are leaving town on Thursday.

Lawmakers will return on April 29, when senators are expected to focus on a slate of appointments teed up by Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell dismisses Medicare for All: Not while GOP controls Senate McConnell agrees Green Hillicon Valley: House votes to reinstate net neutrality rules | GOP lawmakers lay ont Twitter, Facebook over censorship claims | Amazon workers push company on climate | Bill targets algorithmic bias | Yahoo to pay 7M in breach settlement MORE (R-Ky.).

Shelby said after the White House that they have agreed to keep the conversation going for a break.

"We continue to work. The president listened; he suggested a few things, "Shelby said. "He instructed his staff and our staff to see what they could do."

Shelby added that there were "great needs" for disaster relief funding, but "we're trying to reach a point where we can get it at a standoff." but did not get into a specific proposal.

The Senate Republican disaster aid bill provides $ 13.45 billion for recovery from recent storms, hurricanes and fires, including $ 600 million in food aid for Puerto Rico. GOP senators are betting that it would be politically damaging for Democrats, several of whom are running for president, to oppose the disaster relief money, some of which could go to Iowa, which hosts the first-in-the-nation caucus.

But Democrats, and top Puerto Rican officials, argue the amount is insufficient to help the island lingering structural damage caused by the 2017 hurricanes.

Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyReport: GOP senator once called Mulvaney 'the most dangerous man' in Washington Live coverage: Barr Faces (Vt.), The top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, tried to offer a price increase for Puerto Rico, including funding to repair its water infrastructure, but also included $ 2.5 billion in new funding for communities in the Midwest and Southeast that were impacted by severe storms late last month. It was blocked by Republicans.

Leahy and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerDems see room for Abrams in crowded Presidential Border Dems introduce resolution condemning Trump's closure threats Schumer responds to Biden allegation: 'Voters will weigh the pros and cons' MORE (D-N.Y.) $ 17.2 billion in disaster relief, including $ 3 billion in funding for recent disasters in the Midwest and Southeast, from House Democrats.

Support for recovery money is usually overwhelmingly bipartisan, but the Senate package – meant to respond to a spate of recent hurricanes, wildfires and storms – was derailed by a fight between Democrats and Trump over additional funding for Puerto Rico.

Trump questioned the island territory's handling of past disaster relief during last month's private luncheon with Republicans. Since then, the disaster has become a part of a blame game with both sides saying the other is responsible for failing to reach a deal.

"It's frustrating, it's mind boggling. I think it's too much politics involved in the quest to help people, "Shelby told reporters this week.

Asked when it was faulty, Shelby started to answer the question when Leahy came up behind him.

"We brought up a couple of packages; unfortunately, the Republican leader thought he had to object, "Leahy told reporters, prompting Shelby to interrupt him and add that" the Democratic leader had some objections, too. "

Schumer ripped Republicans on Thursday, accusing them of being rushed to Trump on additional help for Puerto Rico, which was devastated by back-to-back hurricanes in 2017.

"It's an absolute travesty that this chamber is recessing without compromising on much-needed funding for disaster relief," Schumer said. "It's a tragedy that the Republican leadership in this chamber has failed to help American citizens before going into recess."

McConnell, asked about the issue during a pen-and-pad briefing with reporters on Thursday, said Congress is in the process of making a decision on the issue.

"We got a real disaster here and it's just not part of the United States or Puerto Rico," he said. "I think we should be able to do this by playing games with us on our side.

Both sides have traded on a potential disaster aid agreement, but so far they've come up empty.

Sen. Johnny IsaksonJohn (Johnny) Hardy IsaksonOvernight Defense: Transgender troops rally as ban nears | Trump may call more troops to border | National Guard 3M Training Shortfall from Border Deployment | Pentagon to find housing for 5,000 migrant children Pompeo: Russia compliant with nuclear treaty that 's up for renewal Dems (R-Ga.), Who has been involved in the talks, appeared optimistic earlier on Thursday, saying he thought it was a path to a deal.

"We're leaving town with a lot of hope," he said. "I was overcoming a lot of depression, I guess you would say anything, just in the week and last week, just because I could not feel anything moving that much."

But by the end of the day Gop senators, including Isakson, released a statement voicing frustration about stalled legislation.

A senior Democratic Senate aide told the Hill on Thursday that Democrats had made the case for the GOP leader's office had not yet responded.

Asked Thursday about whether it would be possible to use the House of Commons, McConnell sidestepped, but said they should not let the issue get "kicked down the road" and that "it's time to sit down". and get an agreement. "

The fight over the stalemated disaster. Isakson told reporters that during a recent conversation Leahy brought up the 2013 vote on relief after Hurricane Sandy.

"The senator from Vermont called me last Friday and said, 'I want to show you something,' so he feels this two-page spread on that vote. Of the 37 'no' votes, I was one of them, "Isakson said.

But Leahy, asked by reporters about Isakson 's accusation, downplayed the contentiousness of their talk.

"No, no," he said. "It was in response to something he said. … I love Sen. Isakson. He's a dear, dear friend. "