All posts tagged: balk

GOP senators balk at Trump’s .8-billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, force delay in key vote

GOP senators balk at Trump’s $1.8-billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, force delay in key vote

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s grip on his party slipped on Thursday as anger boiled over among Senate Republicans about a growing list of issues. In a striking display of defiance, GOP senators abruptly derailed plans to vote on legislation to fund Trump’s immigration crackdown amid deep disagreements over security funding for a White House ballroom and a $1.8-billion fund to pay people who claim to have been politically persecuted. The discontent had been building for weeks. Many senators had grown frustrated over Trump’s decision to endorse candidates running against longtime Republican incumbents. Others, worried about rising costs as a result from the war in Iran, had aired concerns ahead of the midterm elections. But the breaking point came when the Justice Department, with little warning, pushed to create what it termed the “anti-weaponization fund.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the concerns over the fund Thursday after a reportedly contentious private meeting about it between Senate Republicans and acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche. He also conceded midterm politics had added to the tension. “It’s hard to …

Republicans balk at Senate Democrats’ DHS shutdown counteroffer

Republicans balk at Senate Democrats’ DHS shutdown counteroffer

Republicans on Wednesday balked at a Democratic counteroffer to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, as lawmakers and the White House scramble to strike a deal before a scheduled two-week recess begins on Friday ahead of a busy U.S. travel week for spring breaks and the Easter holiday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Wednesday there was “no point” in Republicans issuing another response to Democrats’ counter and said the Senate would vote later that day on the GOP proposal unveiled earlier this week. “It’s not even close to being real,” Thune said of the counteroffer. “They know better. They’re asking for things that have already been turned down. So it just seems like they’re going in circles, spinning, spinning.” The White House criticized Democrats for their role in the negotiations. “It’s laughable that Democrats are now demanding more reforms to an agency they still refuse to fund,” a White House official via email on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This latest stunt from the Democrats proves they are not interested …