Dems demand budget boost to shield midterms from Russian interference GOP does slow dance!..

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Dems demand budget boost to shield midterms from Russian interference

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/russia-election-meddling-democrats-funding-420359




Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are pictured. | Getty Images

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi outlined their bid for extra money for the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Election Assistance Commission. | Alex Wong/Getty Images
Dems demand budget boost to shield midterms from Russian interference

By ELANA SCHOR

Updated 02/21/2018 02:01 PM EST


Congressional Democratic leaders on Wednesday called for more than $300 million in new funding to help safeguard this November's elections against Russian interference. But they stopped short of courting any shutdown battles over the issue ahead of next month's must-pass government spending bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) outlined their bid for extra money for the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Election Assistance Commission in a letter to GOP leaders that made no mention of President Donald Trump.

But the Democrats' request was clearly intended as a barb toward Trump, who has seemingly lashed out at every target besides Moscow in the days since special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three companies for an alleged systematic campaign to disrupt the 2016 election.


Trump should take the lead on efforts to protect the midterm elections from Russian influence "rather than obsessing over the legitimacy of his election, tweeting and relitigating the 2016 campaign," Schumer told reporters.............................

Republicans declined to immediately endorse Democrats' demands.

"This request will be carefully considered along with the thousands of individual choices and decisions that will have to be weighed and made as a FY2018 omnibus bill is written," a Senate GOP aide wrote in an email...........................

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