Senate Parliamentarian Reviews $1 Billion White House Security Funding

The Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday night that some immigration enforcement funding ran afoul of Senate rules. Democrats will challenge the inclusion of the security money via the Byrd Rule on Friday.

Even if the funding survives the procedural review known as the Byrd bath, it does not yet have the 50 votes needed to pass. The senator added that he is still looking at the proposal.

Under budget reconciliation rules, language must primarily affect the budget rather than enact policy changes. Republicans acknowledged their initial rollout of the funding could have been handled better.

The same senator said the Secret Service later explained the need for the funding for security purposes. Republicans can rewrite sections struck in the initial review to comply with the rules. The senator from Texas said he is optimistic the parliamentarian will allow the White House security funding to proceed.

Roughly a half-dozen Republican senators are staying noncommittal about the money until the parliamentarian issues a ruling. One senator who voted against the budget resolution setting up the party-line bill said the security money faces challenges with the parliamentarian. That senator added it would help if the expenditures were more clearly delineated on the security side.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republican leaders are hearing members out and trying to figure out the best language. Democrats have begun attacking the proposed funding. There is also no guarantee the House would pass the measure if included in the package.