Trump Urges Senate to Fire Parliamentarian Over $1 Billion Ballroom Funding Rejection
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 20
Trump Urges Senate to Fire Parliamentarian Over $1 Billion Ballroom Funding Rejection
10 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 20
Trump on Wednesday publicly demanded the Senate oust parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she ruled Republicans could not include $1 billion tied to his White House ballroom project in an immigration reconciliation bill.
MacDonough found Saturday that the security funding around the East Wing construction and other Secret Service priorities violated reconciliation rules, which limit the fast-track process to budget items and bypass the 60-vote filibuster.
John Thune signaled the bigger problem is support, not procedure, saying "most of the issues we have here are votes," and Sen. John Neely Kennedy said Republicans likely lack votes for the ballroom-related funding anyway.
Trump also renewed his push to scrap the filibuster for his voter-ID bill, arguing Republicans must either fire the parliamentarian or lower the 60-vote threshold as the party revises the funding language and awaits a new ruling.
How can one non-elected official's ruling derail a project backed by the President?
Why is taxpayer money needed for a White House ballroom once promised to be privately funded?
What are the secrets to passing major projects through the Senate's complex 'Byrd Rule' gauntlet?