Schumer slams “Ballroom Republicans”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the chamber to pan Republican colleagues' persistence in fighting for funding for President Trump's desired White House ballroom project while Americans' cost of living continues to rise.

"Ballroom Republicans have made their choice," the Democratic Leader said Monday afternoon. "Trump's ego over your electric bill, Trump's palace over your paycheck, Trump's priorities over your family's needs."

Republicans are pushing to pass an appropriations bill through the reconciliation process before lawmakers recess for the Memorial Day holiday. Bills passed through reconciliation only require a 50-vote threshold instead of the Senate's usual 60-vote margin to evade a filibuster, yet they may only pertain to matters of federal budgets. The Senate parliamentarian ruled certain provisions related to the ballroom project were "extraneous" this past weekend, sending GOP lawmakers back to the drawing board.

Sen. Schumer said Democrats would oppose the reconciliation package regardless of whether it included funding for the ballroom: "Whether the ballroom stays, goes, or gets buried somewhere else, Republicans are still pushing a bill that does nothing meaningful to lower costs for families," he said. "Democrats are going to fight this with everything we have."

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