Congressional Republicans are racing to finalize their multibillion-dollar immigration funding package before the holiday weekend, but lawmakers are running into problems surrounding the security enhancements for the White House ballroom.
The Senate is looking to begin debate as early as Wednesday evening on the $70 billion spending bill that would fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. But Republican legislators are still working through issues related to the $1 billion provision for Secret Service intended to secure the ballroom project.
“There are ongoing vote issues and some ongoing parliamentarian issues related to that, so we are working through with the final details of that in hopes that we can post text sometime middle of the day,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning.
Depending on how long it takes to finish drafting the bill, time for debate or final votes could slip to Thursday, according to some senators involved in the process.
Parliamentarian weighs in on ballroom
Republicans are working to update the legislative text after the Senate parliamentarian ruled the first draft of the ballroom security funding did not adhere to rules that would exempt it from the 60-vote filibuster. By adjusting the language, Republicans hope it can be attached to the underlying bill by the time they vote.
Even if Republicans manage to get the ballroom language through the parliamentarian, it still faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Democrats are planning to challenge the immigration funding package, which could include an amendment to strip out the ballroom funding.
Democrats would need just four or more Republicans to cross party lines for that amendment to pass, assuming all Democrats vote in favor — and some Republicans have already indicated they are against the provision.
Utah Sen. John Curtis is among the handful of Republicans carefully considering the ballroom funding, telling reporters last week the $1 billion price tag has raised questions about whether it’s justified.
“I have a sense that they are listening to me and us, and that will be reflected in what we see,” Curtis told the Deseret News on Tuesday. “I can’t tell you because I haven’t seen it, but I’m hoping they have listened.”
Meanwhile, Republican leaders in the House say they want to act on the immigration funding bill as soon as it passes the Senate — eyeing a vote as soon as Thursday. Top Republicans are worried if they leave the bill until Friday, it could be weighed down by attendance issues as lawmakers leave town for the Memorial Day recess.
But Trump has set the deadline for final passage as June 1, prompting Republicans to race to finish the bill before the weekend.