President Donald Trump is urging for the removal of a senator after that senator determined over the weekend that a $1 billion funding proposal for the White House banquet hall drafted by Republican lawmakers did not comply with Senate rules.
According to “two sources,” NOTUS reported that Trump has asked Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) to dismiss Sen. Elizabeth McDonough due to her ruling.
A separate official mentioned that Trump expressed his “frustration” to Thune during a phone conversation.
Though Thune wouldn’t confirm whether Trump requested McDonough’s ousting, he stated he has no plans to fire her. He emphasized that the Senate undergoes a process every time it introduces a reconciliation bill.
“We’re following the usual process that occurs whenever we introduce a reconciliation bill, and people from both parties are upset with their legislators,” Thune remarked.
Breitbart News’ Sean Moran reported that McDonough cautioned that the GOP’s plan to allocate $1 billion for the ballrooms “would need a 60-vote threshold if it remained part of the bill.”
McDonough noted that Trump’s Republican initiative to secure $1 billion for a White House banquet hall would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if included in the bill.
Republicans are attempting to utilize budget reconciliation to fund various programs, including banquet halls, Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This approach could allow the funding measure to pass in the Senate with only Republican backing.
However, there are strict regulations guiding the legislation to prevent violation of Senate reconciliation rules.
Semaphore reported that Trump contacted Thune after McDonough ruled that “according to strict budget reconciliation rules, this funding could not be voted on.”
Republican legislators continue drafting language for security measures that would adhere to the Senate’s Byrd rules and withstand scrutiny within Congress.
