Senate Dems eager to force Republicans to vote on Trump's ballroom
Summary
Senate Democrats want Republicans to vote on a $1 billion plan for security upgrades to a new ballroom linked to President Trump's White House. Republicans included the funding in a larger bill for security agencies, but Democrats say the money should not be spent on a ballroom that was supposed to be privately funded.Key Facts
- Republicans added $1 billion for Secret Service security upgrades in the East Wing, part of Trump’s new ballroom, to a $72 billion spending bill.
- The funding is for "above-ground and below-ground security features" and excludes non-security costs.
- President Trump said the ballroom construction would be privately paid, with no government money.
- Democrats criticize the funding as wasteful and say it ignores middle-class priorities.
- The ballroom funding may become a key fight during a Senate vote required before the bill can go to President Trump.
- Some Democrats worry the Senate rules adviser might remove the ballroom funding from the bill before voting.
- The idea to fund the ballroom security followed a shooting at a White House event last month.
- Senator Lindsey Graham prefers to fund the ballroom through usual approval methods but is open to forcing Democrats to vote on it.
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