Senate Republicans have inserted $1 billion for White House East Wing security enhancements in the immigration enforcement funding bill they hope to rush through Congress this month, setting up a political fight over a ballroom that President Trump has said would be financed with private money.
The leaders of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees on Monday released plans for the roughly $70 billion package, which would significantly bolster spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol through the end of Mr. Trump’s term using a party-line legislative process that can skirt a filibuster.
A surprise addition to the measure was the $1 billion proposed by the Judiciary Committee for security work related to Mr. Trump’s East Wing renovation. The measure does not mention the president’s proposed new ballroom, which is being challenged in court, but Mr. Trump has insisted that a main reason for the project is to enhance security.
While the president has previously insisted that the renovation would be funded through private donations, a spokesman on Tuesday said the White House applauded the proposed security funding for a “long overdue” project.
$400 million was Trump’s private donation funds for the ballroom.
Now he wants $1 billion for security of the ballroom.
Me thinks he never got $400 million. So now we tax payers must pay for all this unneeded ballroom and security. I feel we are getting fleeced by Trump.
Here is more fleecing: While gasoline and consumer goods are rising steadily, Trump administration is spending $1 billion per day in the Iran war. We the tax payers must pay for this unwanted and unneeded war. The whole world is suffering the economic fallout of this war.
I think his supporters in Congress realize that this isn’t going to get done without Congressional funding. Judges have shut it down because the funds were not authorized. That is the only way around it. At least some semblance of law is being observed. If Congress funds it, then it will happen.