Senate Narrowly Defeats Bid to Block Trump Payout Fund

Senators took their first swing at killing a controversial Trump administration compensation fund on Thursday—and whiffed. A Democratic amendment aimed at permanently blocking the proposed $1.8 billion pot of money for people claiming wrongful prosecution or investigation failed 50-49, with three Republicans—Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, and Dan Sullivan of Alaska—breaking ranks to support it, the Washington Post reports. The vote came as part of a larger Republican push to pass a nearly $70 billion immigration enforcement bill via reconciliation, sidestepping a filibuster and allowing ICE and Customs and Border Protection to be funded through the end of President Trump's term.

Democratic Sen. Michael Benet of Colorado was absent, but even if he had been present, Democrats would have needed one more GOP defector, the Hill reports. Some Republicans who have strongly criticized the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," including Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, didn't vote for the amendment, though similar proposals later in the "vote-o-rama" process might attract more Republican support than the one introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the New York Times reports. A separate Tillis amendment to bar federal dollars from being used for the fund also failed, with most Democrats against it and 10 Republican senators in support.

• Tillis warned that the issue could be a huge problem for Republicans in the midterms, the Post reports. "Republicans should do the stump speech test on this issue, particularly the ones who are in cycle," he said. "'I stand solidly behind an administration that wants to potentially provide compensation to people who assaulted Capitol police officers. I stand fully behind that.' Test that on the stump and see how it works out for you in November."

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress this week the administration has dropped plans for the fund, but Trump has not publicly closed the door on it. "Republicans are trusting the word of Todd Blanche, who built a career on lying, that the administration will just drop this slush fund," Schumer said, per the Post. He said Democrats plan to force votes on Trump's immunity from audits, another part of his settlement with the IRS, along with the Iran war, the White House ballroom, and other issues, the AP reports. "Amendment after amendment, vote after vote, Republicans are going to have to answer to the American people," Schumer said.