President Donald Trump used a Monday phone call with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to complain about a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that has jeopardized millions in security dollars for his East Wing ballroom.The phone call, reported by Semafor and confirmed by a source familiar with the conversation, represents the latest flash of frustration as Democrats attempt to strip the money from an immigration enforcement bill that will get a Senate vote before the end of the week.Republicans plan to rework the language to comply with the strict rules of reconciliation, a budget process that lets them skirt the filibuster, but the ruling has reopened wounds that predate the current spending fight.
Last year, Thune rejected conservative calls to fire Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she ruled against portions of Republicans’ GOP tax law, and Trump himself asked Thune to remove her on Monday, according to NOTUS. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Under Democratic control, MacDonough has ruled against language on the minimum wage and other liberal priorities.
Democrats successfully challenged the $1 billion in Secret Service funding on Saturday and will attempt to do so again when Republicans submit their updated text. Of that amount, around $220 million is earmarked for “hardening” the East Wing complex. The funding is part of a $70 billion bill to reopen Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its sister agency, Customs and Border Protection.
