"Chuck Schumer, the US Senate's top Democrat, has vowed to oppose a Republican plan to spend $1bn on security improvements for the ballroom Donald Trump is seeking to build on the White House's former East Wing. The money is set to be included in a measure Republicans plan to pass that would allocate about $70bn to the federal agencies leading Trump's mass deportation campaign, with the intention of keeping them operational through the remainder of the president's term."
"That is what today's Republicans have become: Republicans asking working families to pay the price while Donald Trump pockets the perks, Schumer, the Senate minority leader, wrote in a letter to Democratic senators. Let me make one thing very clear: Senate Democrats will not let them jam through this bill without making them answer for their endless cost hikes, healthcare cuts, and every dollar diverted from American families to Trump's priorities. Democrats will fight the Republicans' reconciliation bill with every tool we have."
"Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate judiciary committee, last week included the ballroom security money in a resolution outlining his committee's plan for the immigration enforcement spending bill. The committee is expected to consider the resolution at a hearing on Tuesday. The $1bn is intended for the US Secret Service to spend on security enhancements related to the East Wing modernization project, as the Trump administration refers to the White House ballroom."
"Trump has claimed that the ballroom itself, which is estimated to cost $400m, will be funded by donations from individuals and major businesses including Meta, Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Palantir, Google and Comcast. But Schumer argued the money would enable the president to continue his remaking of the executive mansion, which also faces a challenge in federal court. Republicans are advancing the legislation using the reconciliation procedure, which can circumvent a filibuster by Dem"
A $1bn security allocation for a Trump White House ballroom is set to be included in a Republican reconciliation measure that would provide about $70bn to federal agencies supporting a mass deportation campaign. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats will oppose the bill and demand accountability for cost increases and healthcare cuts while arguing funds are diverted from American families to Trump priorities. The $1bn is intended for the US Secret Service to enhance security tied to modernization of the former East Wing, referred to by the Trump administration as the ballroom. Republicans have placed the security money in a Senate Judiciary Committee resolution expected to be considered at a hearing. The ballroom is estimated to cost $400m, and Trump claims it will be funded by private donations, while Schumer argues the security funding enables continued executive mansion remaking amid a federal court challenge.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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