WASHINGTON — The Senate began voting Thursday on a $70 billion bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through the end of President Donald Trump’s term.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Republicans plan to pass the bill without any Democratic support.But first, they’ll have to endure a “vote-a-rama” during which senators from either party can offer amendments, which Democrats will use to make Republicans take painful votes.There were some early signs of trouble — and no clear end-game to pass the bill — as the first Democratic amendment was held open by GOP leaders for more than two hours.The amendment by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seeks to ban the Justice Department from setting up a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund sought by Trump, which has sparked bipartisan blowback.
Democrats and some Republicans see it as a “slush fund” to funnel taxpayer money to pay Jan.6 rioters and other Trump allies.Add NBC News to GoogleTrump adds uncertainty to the status of $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund00:57The contentious issue forced Republicans to abandon plans to take up the bill two weeks ago.
But problems have lingered as the Trump administration gives mixed signals about the fund.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before Congress on Tuesday that the administration is “not moving forward with the fund.” But Trump said he’s not ready to do away with it yet.“The weaponization fund, as far as I’m concerned, was a beautiful thing,” the president told reporters Wednesday.
“I love it.I think it’s so important.”As a result, some Republicans want to attach an amendment to the funding bill to restrict any such fund — but without scuttling the underlying legislation.“When you’re explaining, you’re losing.
There’s no way to explain the $1.776 [billion] fund.So, the only way you can explain it is...