The U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, amid fog on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON – Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Thursday fought off an attempt to stop the Justice Department from using an “anti-gun” fund to pay people who feel they are being unfairly prosecuted, as well as another proposal aimed at requiring congressional approval for a modern White House ballroom.
The debate over amendments and requests from Democrats and Republicans is a necessary part of the special process that GOP leaders are using to approve nearly $70 billion for immigration control and deportation measures, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, through the end of President Donald Trump’s term.
Voting was expected to continue into the evening and possibly even overnight, as Democrats seek to challenge their Republican counterparts in politics while pushing for control of Congress ahead of this year’s midterm elections in November. The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned for the week on Thursday, meaning the measure won’t land on the president’s desk until next week at the earliest.
Senators voted 49 to 50 to reject an amendment from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would have blocked the Justice Department from implementing Trump’s “anti-gun” proposal to utilize $1.776 billion to pay people who feel they are being unfairly prosecuted.
Several Republicans facing a tough re-election fight joined Democrats in voting for the amendment, including Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Jon Husted of Ohio.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated Earlier this week, the administration scrapped plans for the anti-gun fund after intense criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, but Trump later said he wasn’t sure and would have to check with his lawyers.
“Trump will not give Americans a dime to offset the skyrocketing costs he has inflicted on our country,” Schumer said. “But he’s more than happy to charge them nearly $2 billion to line the pockets of his families, his billionaire friends and the criminals who mistreated police officers on January 6. If Republicans truly reject this corruption, prove it.”
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis then proposed his own amendment that would have transferred the administration’s proposed funding for its so-called “anti-gun” fund to the Justice Department’s fraud division.
“We have heard in the last 48 hours that the acting attorney general has said that this fund is not moving forward,” Tillis said. “All this amendment does is codify what I believe is DOJ policy.”
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham raised a procedural objection to Tillis’ amendment, arguing it did not meet strict procedural rules.
Tillis tried to forgo this maneuver, but a 15-84 votes These goals were not met and the change failed.
Construction of a ballroom in the White House
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley proposed an amendment that would have required congressional approval to move forward with Trump’s request Renovation of the White House Ballroom.
“All of us here have a responsibility to follow the stewardship of the purse strings enshrined in the Constitution. Let’s all support the idea that if it’s going to go forward, it has to go forward with authorization from Congress,” the Democrat said.
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul called the amendment a “poison pill” and raised a procedural issue, arguing that Merkley’s measure falls outside the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee.
“There is no money in this bill for a ballroom,” Paul said.
Merkley attempted to waive the procedural objection but failed by a vote of 53 to 46, requiring at least 60 votes to advance.
