U.S. Congressional Update

As many of our readers know, Doug Campbell, who worked with Blue Star Strategies for many years, has retired and returned to his home state of California. Doug expertly wrote the #BlueStarBrief’s monthly Congressional update as he worked in the United States Congress for over 25 years. We miss him not just for his expert writing and analysis but for the great work he did for the firm’s clients.

There is a lot of activity in Congress, but whether anything gets done is another question.  As you know from Doug’s report last month, Republicans are trying to pass a second reconciliation bill. You will recall that the Republicans had previously passed—and President Trump signed—the Big Beautiful Bill. Now, because the Republicans could not reach a compromise with the Democrats on funding the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), they are trying to pass the funding measure through reconciliation, where they will only need a simple majority of 51 votes instead of the traditional 60.

Unfortunately for the Republicans, the White House has asked for $1 billion to fund President Trump’s East Wing ballroom. While President Trump originally said no taxpayer funds would be used for the White House ballroom, following the recent White House Correspondents Dinner shooting, President Trump asked Congress for $1 billion to provide heightened security for the ballroom. In the Byrd Bath, named for the late Senator Byrd, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled the funding out of order. Many Senate Republicans were secretly hoping this would happen. Additionally, several moderate Senate Republicans have told their leadership that they will not support funding the new ballroom. 

Today, the Budget Committee advanced the reconciliation bill to the Senate Floor in a partisan 11-10 vote.  Tonight the Democrats will propose numerous amendments to reconciliation in what is known as a “vote-a-rama”.  Many, if not all, of the amendments are designed to force Senators including Senators Collins, Halsted, Cornyn, and Sullivan who are facing re-election in November’s midterms.  The Democrats’ amendments are designed to demonstrate to voters that President Trump cares little about their struggles to afford groceries, housing, and childcare and instead is focused on his vanity projects, including the ballroom. Once the Senate passes reconciliation, the bill will go to the House where Speaker Johnson has a thin majority.  Moderate Republicans in the House have also indicated their opposition to the President’s ballroom. 

Based on nearly every poll, U.S. voters are concerned about the economy and affordability, and a vast majority believe President Trump is not doing all that he can to decrease prices and reduce inflation. As an end to the war in Iran is nowhere in sight and gas prices continue to rise, Republicans are trying to stay on message knowing that voters want Congress to do something to reduce the costs they are encountering every day.