Senate Dems eager to force Republicans to vote on Trump's ballroom

Source: Axios · Bias: Center Left

Summary

Senate Democrats are salivating at the chance to force every Republican to vote on $1 billion for security upgrades tied to President Trump's new White House ballroom.Why it matters: A billion-dollar, Trump-branded gilded ballroom — which the president insisted would be privately funded — is the kind of affordability contrast Democrats have dreamed about for the 2026 midterms."It's an outrageous betrayal of hardworking families who want lower costs, not a golden ballroom," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee."Republicans are ignoring middle-class needs and funneling money into Trump's ballroom while throwing billions at two lawless agencies," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Budget Committee.Driving the news: Republicans tucked $1 billion for the Secret Service to fund "above-ground and below-ground security features" in the East Wing into their $72 billion reconciliation bill, part of a broader package aimed at funding ICE and Border Patrol through fiscal 2029.The provision explicitly bars spending on "non-security elements."Trump had insisted that "no government funds" would be used in the ballroom's construction.Zoom in: Expect the ballroom to take center stage in the Senate "vote-a-rama" that the reconciliation bill must survive before it can reach the president's desk.One catch: Democrats privately worry the Senate parliamentarian could strip the $1 billion provision before it ever hits the floor.Zoom out: After the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last month, some Republicans pushed for Congress to cover what was then a roughly $400 million ballroom price tag.Senate Budget Committee chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he'd rather handle it through the normal appropriations process — and made clear he's open to forcing Democrats to go on the record on funding a secure venue for large-scale presidential events.

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Senate Dems eager to force Republicans to vote on Trump's ballroom
Axios

Senate Dems eager to force Republicans to vote on Trump's ballroom

Center Left

Senate Democrats are salivating at the chance to force every Republican to vote on $1 billion for security upgrades tied to President Trump's new White House ballroom.Why it matters: A billion-dollar, Trump-branded gilded ballroom — which the president insisted would be privately funded — is the kind of affordability contrast Democrats have dreamed about for the 2026 midterms."It's an outrageous betrayal of hardworking families who want lower costs, not a golden ballroom," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee."Republicans are ignoring middle-class needs and funneling money into Trump's ballroom while throwing billions at two lawless agencies," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Budget Committee.Driving the news: Republicans tucked $1 billion for the Secret Service to fund "above-ground and below-ground security features" in the East Wing into their $72 billion reconciliation bill, part of a broader package aimed at funding ICE and Border Patrol through fiscal 2029.The provision explicitly bars spending on "non-security elements."Trump had insisted that "no government funds" would be used in the ballroom's construction.Zoom in: Expect the ballroom to take center stage in the Senate "vote-a-rama" that the reconciliation bill must survive before it can reach the president's desk.One catch: Democrats privately worry the Senate parliamentarian could strip the $1 billion provision before it ever hits the floor.Zoom out: After the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last month, some Republicans pushed for Congress to cover what was then a roughly $400 million ballroom price tag.Senate Budget Committee chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he'd rather handle it through the normal appropriations process — and made clear he's open to forcing Democrats to go on the record on funding a secure venue for large-scale presidential events.

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