The House on Tuesday advanced a nearly $70 billion budget reconciliation package that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

The lower chamber approved a rule 213-211 that tees up debate and a final vote on the GOP measure.

The rule briefly appeared in trouble as Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), policy chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) voted “no.” A number of other hardliners, including members of the House Freedom Caucus also had not voted.

They huddled with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), with Roy appearing visibly frustrated as he spoke to other members of the Freedom Caucus.

Many members in the huddle were withholding votes as they sought commitments on codifying more of Trump’s border policies, according to a source familiar.

More here

Tagged: Capitol Hill BACK TO HOMEPAGE