Key House GOP moderate dismisses ballroom funding request

A key moderate Republican lawmaker said Tuesday he would not support a White House security funding request that could pour as much as $220 million into President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom project.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) dismissed the prospect that the House would approve $1 billion in new Secret Service spending as part of a pending party-line bill that otherwise funds immigration enforcement agencies.

“Not happening here,” he said in an interview.

Pressed on whether he supports the idea, he responded directly, “No.”

Fitzpatrick’s vote and those of like-minded centrists will be crucial to getting the overall $70 billion package through the House, given the slim GOP majority.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran lobbied Senate Republicans for the funding Tuesday, explaining that only a subset of the funding would potentially be used on the ballroom, but met a skeptical reception nonetheless. Curran and other White House officials are expected to continue making the case in the coming days, saying the money is needed to secure the ballroom project and other venues frequented by the president.