BREAKING: Six Republican Senators Vote with Democrats to Block Construction of President Trump’s Ballroom

The Senate on Thursday voted on a proposal to block the construction of President Trump’s 90,000 square foot ballroom. The proposal, which needed 60 votes, failed 52-47. However, SIX Republican Senators voted with the Democrats to block the construction of the ballroom: Collins, Husted, Moran, Murkowski, Sullivan and Tillis. The proposal was introduced by Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley during Thursday’s vote-a-rama. The Hill reported: Six Republican senators voted with Democrats in support of a proposal sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to block the construction of President Trump’s 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom unless Congress authorizes the project. The amendment would have given Congress sole authority to construct a new ballroom and would have barred any federal funds or private donations from being used to build the new ballroom without congressional approval. Six Republicans voted with Democrats to waive a procedural objection to the amendment: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). The amendment, which was proposed during a vote-a-rama on Republicans’ reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement, needed 60 votes to overcome a point-of-order objection. It failed by a vote of 52 to 47. A federal judge earlier this year limited the construction on President Trump’s privately-funded White House ballroom. Last summer, the Trump Administration announced a White House Ballroom construction project. “For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people,” the Trump White House said. “The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House,” they said. The post BREAKING: Six Republican Senators Vote with Democrats to Block Construction of President Trump’s Ballroom appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.