Congress

Senate GOP defeats first attempt to kill DOJ payout fund

Published

4 months ago

June 4, 2026

Senate Republicans beat back an early attempt by Democrats to effectively kill their immigration enforcement bill.

Senators voted 50-49 to reject an attempt by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to send the measure back to the Judiciary Committee to insert language that would kill President Donald Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The move was aimed at codifying the promise acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made to House appropriators Tuesday that the administration would scrap plans for the fund.

“Democrats will force Republicans to vote on Trump’s MAGA slush fund, his lifetime tax exemption, his billion-dollar taxpayer funded ballroom,” Schumer said from the Senate floor, referring also to an IRS settlement ruling out future Trump audits and the White House project to replace the razed East Wing.

Three GOP senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Jon Husted of Ohio — voted for Schumer’s motion. All are seeking reelection this year.

The motion from Schumer was the first of what is expected to be many attempts from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle at inserting language into the measure about the fund during the so-called “vote-a-rama.”

But unlike other expected attempts, Schumer’s motion could have been approved with a simple majority vote. Other fund-related amendments are likely to be at a higher 60-vote threshold.

There is no limit to the number of amendments that can be offered during “vote-a-rama” aside from senatorial fatigue, and both parties will also be offering proposals to reshape the core immigration enforcement provisions of the bill.

Republicans held the vote on Schumer’s motion open for more than two hours as leaders worked through concerns from several GOP holdouts who have wanted to curtail the fund. In addition to several proposals from Democrats, Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have filed related amendments.

“I think we’ll have a vote or two around that issue — I can’t predict how it comes out,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said during the lengthy vote on Schumer’s proposal. “People are going to have the option to vote for it.”

Adding language to the bill affecting the DOJ payout fund could divide Republicans and threaten the underlying immigration enforcement bill’s chances of clearing the Senate.

Congress

John Thune: Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund Trump ads

Published

2 hours ago

September 28, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Senate Majority Leader John Thune took issue Monday with a new ad campaign featuring President Donald Trump that is being underwritten with federal funds.

“It’s a great message. I like the message. But it shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” the top Senate Republican told reporters.

One of the ads that has aired in recent days is virtually identical to a 2024 Trump campaign ad except that the new version states it is “paid for by the U.S. government.” Another shows images of Trump accompanied by a song titled “Love Me” and captions such as, “America will never be a communist country.”

Thune (R-S.D.) noted that Trump has not specified where the funding is coming from. The White House has defended the ad campaign as a “public service announcement” akin to spots backed by previous presidents promoting things like Covid-19 vaccinations.

Congress

Senate to vote on member stock trading bill

Published

7 hours ago

September 28, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The Senate will vote this week on a House-passed bill to restrict the ability of members of Congress and their families to buy and sell stocks, according to two people granted anonymity to disclose unannounced scheduling.

The vote is likely to take place Wednesday, the people said, pending GOP leaders setting up the plans on the Senate floor.

The stock-trading bill passed the House earlier this year in a 232-198 vote, with only 13 Democrats in favor. Most House Democrats opposed the bill because it would not require members to sell stocks they already own and because they viewed included voter ID language as a “poison pill.”

It will need 60 votes to advance in the Senate, meaning at least seven Democrats would need to support it.

Senate Republicans had been discussing bringing up the bill as one of their final items before leaving Washington until after the midterms — something that could happen as soon as Wednesday.

It’s one of two bills Republicans are expected to tee up this week that is being led by a Republican in a tight reelection race. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) helped roll out the stock trading bill. The included voter ID language has been championed by Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio), who is also behind the data center costs bill Republicans also plan to put on the floor this week.

Congress

Capitol agenda: Thune plots final votes before midterms

Published

10 hours ago

September 28, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The Senate is — finally — on the verge of making a great escape.

After last week’s decision to stick around and try to make headway on a number of GOP priorities, Senate Republicans could leave town as soon as Wednesday, according to several senators and aides.

A long-sought permitting vote isn’t happening (more on that below), so John Thune’s pre-election to-do list is relatively light.

It starts with final passage of the bipartisan bill overhauling the college sports industry, which is expected Monday night. But the idea that a sports bill could be the last item of Senate business before Election Day has some optics-minded GOP senators grumbling.

“People are worried about the cost of living, I don’t know how else to say it,” said an increasingly vocal Sen. John Kennedy. “We just haven’t addressed it.”

Enter the GOP’s two-for-one special: They’re bringing up a House-passed bill — the Ratepayer Protection Act — aimed at curbing data-center-driven utility cost hikes. They hope the vote will divide Democrats on a hot-button issue and give endangered Sen. Jon Husted something to tout back home in Ohio.

Thune is expected to tee up the bill Monday night for a vote Wednesday. A Schumer spokesperson said over the weekend the bill “falls short” and said Democrats would seek a “stronger standard.”

Blocking a data-center bill wouldn’t make for great headlines for Democrats. On the other hand, they’re in no mood to do favors for Husted, who is facing ex-Sen. Sherrod Brown on Nov. 3.

Also on the agenda: Republicans are discussing votes on measures from Husted and Sen. Pete Ricketts, who is in his own competitive race in Nebraska, to roll back California’s stricter standards for vehicle emissions.

They’re also likely to vote on a House-passed bill to curb lawmaker stock trading. The stock trading bill is being led by Ricketts, and it includes voter ID requirements that have been championed by Husted.

And while Sen. Kevin Cramer removed his hold on one more nominee — Chris Klomp for deputy health secretary — the Senate isn’t expected to vote on that nomination this week.

Cramer is maintaining his broader nominee blockade over Fish and Wildlife regulations — meaning Labor secretary nominee Keith Sonderling and other picks are likely to wait until November.

What else we’re watching:

— THE SENATE’S HOMELAND ROADBLOCK — Sen. Rand Paul has become nearly impossible to get around on everything from cybersecurity to immigration legislation. The Homeland Security chair’s refusal to move forward on several legislative fronts means his colleagues will have to wait until at least January to try to advance their priorities when a new Congress convenes and Paul potentially moves to Senate HELP.

— COLLINS DECRIES POCKET RESCISSIONS — Top Republican appropriator and battleground Sen. Susan Collins Friday night blasted President Donald Trump‘s move to unilaterally cancel funding Congress enacted. Collins pledged to work with other lawmakers “to address these illegal actions.” The president declared canceled nearly $1 billion in a budget maneuver called a “pocket rescission.” The move will almost certainly set up an ugly government funding battle after the midterms, as top Democratic appropriators are also already calling on their GOP colleagues to reject the effort to circumvent Congress.

Eric Bazail-Eimil, Maggie Miller, Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.