Capitol agenda: Dems try to twist knife in Trump-GOP tensions
A marathon vote series on the Senate floor Thursday could be a big test of President Donald Trump’s ability to get his agenda through Congress after wracking up a body count of lawmakers who have crossed him.
Senate Republicans are expected to bring their party-line immigration enforcement funding bill to the floor today after months of negotiations. But they still need to run through a procedural gauntlet of votes by Democrats who are eager to spotlight growing divisions between the president and members of his own party.
The votes come at a particularly sour time for Senate Republicans, many of whom are still reeling from the president’s successful primary challenge last weekend ending Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy’s two-term career in the chamber and his late-breaking endorsement Tuesday undercutting Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s reelection bid.
GOP frustration with Trump and the White House’s handling of the reconciliation bill was already boiling up this week, with Republicans expected to deal a blow to the president by stripping a prized ballroom security funding provision, POLITICO scooped.
Republicans have also shrugged off Trump’s calls to fire the Senate’s parliamentarian, who earlier ruled against inclusion of the ballroom funds to the bill.
Now Democrats will look to the “vote-a-rama” process to crank up the pressure and squeeze vulnerable Republican incumbents on a range of Trump priorities and controversies.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office said Democrats will offer amendments related to high costs of living, masked immigration raids, the Iran war, “secret payouts, cop-beater checks, ballroom favors, and Trump family corruption.”
High on Democrats’ amendment list: Attacking the Justice Department’s new $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which many Republicans were already uneasy about. Democrats have called the money a "slush fund" for Trump allies after officials didn’t rule out that the pot could go toward those charged with storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Democrats are considering multiple strategies, including potentially trying to block the fund outright or ban any payments to Trump supporters who beat law enforcement officers that day, according to Schumer. Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he will offer an amendment to prevent Jan. 6 defendants or child sex offenders from getting payments.
It’s not just the fund that Democrats are planning to target. Sen. Adam Schiff’s list of amendments will include measures to discharge overdue disaster aid in California and other states still awaiting funds from FEMA, Jordain scooped.
Republicans meanwhile are working on their own proposal — which they could put in the yet-to-be unveiled reconciliation bill or offer as an amendment — to restrict the weaponization fund in an effort to get ahead of Democrats’ demands, according to two people granted anonymity to speak candidly.
Republicans are also likely to pitch other amendments: Sen. Josh Hawley has vowed to offer an amendment to extend a ban on Planned Parenthood funding; and Sen. John Kennedy is expected to try to attach Trump’s election security-focused SAVE America Act.
Senators will try to power through the multi-hour vote and deliver the bill to the House by Friday, letting members leave town for the Memorial Day break.
What else we’re watching:
— SENATORS SEARCH FOR HOUSING BILL COMPROMISE: The White House is telling the Senate to pass the embattled housing affordability package that overwhelmingly cleared the House on a 396-13 vote Wednesday. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott and ranking member Elizabeth Warren signaled they are still pushing for changes.
— DEMS LOOK FOR ANOTHER WAR POWERS WIN: GOP defectors could hand Democrats a war powers success in the House today after delivering a win in the Senate on Tuesday. Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to whip against the resolution, but the final tally could ultimately come down to which lawmakers show up to the floor.
Jennifer Scholtes, Katherine Hapgood, Connor O'Brien and Leo Shane III contributed to this report.
