Legislation: A bill has been proposed to allow noncitizens to participate in California Democratic Party politics.
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats have convulsed into their deepest and most bitter rift since taking House control in January, and it took a motherhood and apple pie issue like improving horrific conditions for children and other migrants seized crossing the southwest border to do it.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly sent President Trump a $4.6 billion package on Thursday that bolsters care for the tens of thousands of arrivals taken into custody monthly and imposes guidelines on how the Trump administration must handle them. But the measure dealt a blow to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DSan Francisco, who was forced to accept weaker legislation than she and many liberals wanted, and it generated shock waves across her party.
The bill pitted House and Senate Democrats against each other and highlighted discord between the House’s sizable progressive and centrist factions. It showed that Pelosi faces a challenging balancing act that goes well beyond coping with a handful of vocal, liberal freshmen like Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, DN.Y.
The fight suggested that similar power plays between the liberal and moderate blocs could arise, complicating Democrats’ efforts to address marquee issues like health care and climate change. And it echoed problems faced by recent Republican speakers when they controlled the House and saw priorities derailed by members of the GOP's hardright, often unyielding House Freedom Caucus.
“It is not good for our unity,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, DWash., a liberal leader. “This is a very rough patch.”
While both chambers of Congress approved the package by lopsided margins, Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed it overwhelmingly, with just six Democrats voting “no.” They argued they’d cut the best deal they could in the Republicancontrolled chamber, where the rules virtually force the two parties to compromise if legislation is to pass.
“You’ve got a 301 vote,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, DVt., Senate Democrats' chief negotiator on the measure, citing the Appropriations Committee's overwhelming approval, which presaged the Senate's 848 final passage. “Around here these days you couldn’t get 301 that the sun rises in the East.”
Yet when the House voted 305102 to send the measure to Trump, Pelosi’s Democrats split 12995 for the measure. Even many who backed it did so grudgingly, reflecting the pull between helping children who have been stockaded in overcrowded, squalid facilities and a deep distrust of how Trump will actually use the funds. House Democrats accused their Senate counterparts of killing their leverage to strengthen the measure by backing the legislation so strongly, and even the usually measured Pelosi couldn't resist a dig.
“We will not engage in the same disrespectful behavior that the Senate did in ignoring the House priorities,” she said. “In order to get resources to the children fastest, we will reluctantly put the Senate bill on the floor.”