President looms large over McConnell-Pelosi spending ceiling talks

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is trying to build a functional working relationship with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as the two tackle the mammoth task of winning a deal on fiscal spending ceilings for the next year.

McConnell says the deal is his top legislative priority after the April recess, but achieving it won’t be easy.

Democrats are insisting on parity between defense and nondefense spending, arguing any hike for the Pentagon must be equal to that for domestic spending.

That directly contradicts the wishes of President Trump, whose budget proposed slashing nondefense spending while increasing defense spending by 5 percent.

The 2020 presidential campaign is already hanging over the talks,
putting additional pressure on Pelosi and Trump — who already have a decidedly cool relationship.