House Republicans are taking a victory lap around Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi says Trump sanctions package on Turkey 'falls very short' Graham throws support behind Trump's Turkey sanctions Feehery: Trump may be down, but he's not out yet MORE (D-Calif.) after GOP lawmakers passed a funding bill that would provide $5 billion for President Trump
Donald John TrumpBusiness school deans call for lifting country-specific visa caps Bolton told ex-Trump aide to call White House lawyers about Ukraine pressure campaign: report Federal prosecutors in New York examining Giuliani business dealings with Ukraine: report MORE's proposed border wall.
Nancy PelosiPelosi says Trump sanctions package on Turkey 'falls very short' Graham throws support behind Trump's Turkey sanctions Feehery: Trump may be down, but he's not out yet MORE (D-Calif.) after GOP lawmakers passed a funding bill that would provide $5 billion for President TrumpDonald John TrumpBusiness school deans call for lifting country-specific visa caps Bolton told ex-Trump aide to call White House lawyers about Ukraine pressure campaign: report Federal prosecutors in New York examining Giuliani business dealings with Ukraine: report MORE's proposed border wall.“Nancy Pelosi learned two things today," Rep. Mark Walker
Bradley (Mark) Mark WalkerCalifornia inspires other states to push to pay college athletes To boost minority serving institutions, bipartisan Future Act needs immediate action Pressure rises on Cheney to make decision MORE (R-N.C.) said in a statement Thursday night. "First, it’s not 2009 anymore. Second, hubris is not the same as leadership – you don’t get to march into the Oval Office and dictate your demands without compromise."
Bradley (Mark) Mark WalkerCalifornia inspires other states to push to pay college athletes To boost minority serving institutions, bipartisan Future Act needs immediate action Pressure rises on Cheney to make decision MORE (R-N.C.) said in a statement Thursday night. "First, it’s not 2009 anymore. Second, hubris is not the same as leadership – you don’t get to march into the Oval Office and dictate your demands without compromise." ADVERTISEMENT
Pelosi clashed with Trump last week in a tense, televised Oval Office meeting, where she bickered with him over whether Republicans could muster the votes to pass a border wall bill in the House.
"The fact is you do not have the votes in the House," Pelosi told Trump.
"Nancy, I do," he responded, to which Pelosi replied, "Well, let's take the vote and we'll find out."
The House approved a stopgap funding measure on Thursday night that includes $5.7 billion in funding for the wall. The bill passed in a party-line vote of 217-185.
Rep. Tom Cole
Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeFight over Trump's wall raises odds of 'continuous' stopgap measures Senate spending talks go off the rails as soon as they begin Social determinants of health — health care isn't just bugs and bacteria MORE (R-Okla.) said the bill's passage was a setback for Pelosi, who is expected to become Speaker in January.
Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeFight over Trump's wall raises odds of 'continuous' stopgap measures Senate spending talks go off the rails as soon as they begin Social determinants of health — health care isn't just bugs and bacteria MORE (R-Okla.) said the bill's passage was a setback for Pelosi, who is expected to become Speaker in January."I think she may be a good vote-counter, but not on our side of the aisle," Cole said.
After Pelosi's public challenge to Trump, some Republicans said they felt it was politically imperative to prove her wrong.
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"I think a lot of folks thought she was bluffing, but we needed to prove it, and us proving it is a good step," said Rep. Mike Conaway
Kenneth (Mike) Michael ConawayIntelligence watchdog huddles with members as impeachment push grows What's causing the congressional 'Texodus'? Here are the lawmakers who aren't seeking reelection in 2020 MORE (R-Texas).
Kenneth (Mike) Michael ConawayIntelligence watchdog huddles with members as impeachment push grows What's causing the congressional 'Texodus'? Here are the lawmakers who aren't seeking reelection in 2020 MORE (R-Texas).House Majority Whip Steve Scalise
Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseFurious Republicans prepare to rebuke Trump on Syria Five ways Trump's Syria decision spells trouble Cheney slated to introduce bill to place sanctions on Turkey MORE (R-La.) said Friday that the vote was a show of force to Pelosi on behalf of Trump.
Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseFurious Republicans prepare to rebuke Trump on Syria Five ways Trump's Syria decision spells trouble Cheney slated to introduce bill to place sanctions on Turkey MORE (R-La.) said Friday that the vote was a show of force to Pelosi on behalf of Trump."We just gave him serious leverage in whatever negotiations he is going to have with the Senate," Scalise told Fox News. "They have to confront this issue knowing that we have the president’s back in the House."
Scalise's press secretary, Lauren Fine, circulated a note Thursday night touting that just eight Republicans had voted against the border wall funding measure.
"I know things move fast around here, but wanted to remind you all that it was not too long ago that Nancy Pelosi claimed we would never be able pass $5 billion in funding for the wall with Republican votes in the House," Fine wrote.
The bill's passage was far from a foregone conclusion, and a victory for Scalise's whipping operation. GOP leadership last week was unable to secure enough votes to pass a $5 billion wall bill. They opted not to bring the bill to the floor last week, as they were bedeviled by absent members and moderates who oppose a wall.
Trump signaled earlier this week that he was stepping back from his initial demands and suggested he would accept a short-term stopgap measure to prevent a shutdown. But on Thursday morning GOP conservatives rebelled against passing a bill without border wall funding.
Trump did an about-face, saying on Twitter that he was now demanding wall funding. He also threatened again to shut down the government if Congress did not provide funds for a wall. Republicans settled on a plan to add $5.7 billion in wall funding and border security to the Senate-passed bill and take a vote.
Suddenly, it was Democrats who found themselves scrambling for votes, with several of their own members out of town. For example, Rep. Eric Swalwell
Eric Michael Swalwell2020 Presidential Candidates NBA draws bipartisan backlash over China response Former Ukraine envoy Volker to resign as head of McCain Institute MORE (D-Calif.), a potential 2020 contender, was in Iowa when the vote took place.
Eric Michael Swalwell2020 Presidential Candidates NBA draws bipartisan backlash over China response Former Ukraine envoy Volker to resign as head of McCain Institute MORE (D-Calif.), a potential 2020 contender, was in Iowa when the vote took place."There was a point today where 45 were gone," said Rep. Richard Neal
Richard Edmund NealAmerica's workers and small business owners need the SECURE Act CBO: Pelosi bill to lower drug prices saves Medicare 5 billion Mexican president urges Pelosi to get USMCA trade deal approved MORE (D-Mass.), the likely incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Richard Edmund NealAmerica's workers and small business owners need the SECURE Act CBO: Pelosi bill to lower drug prices saves Medicare 5 billion Mexican president urges Pelosi to get USMCA trade deal approved MORE (D-Mass.), the likely incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.During morning votes, both parties had 26 members absent. By evening, Democrats had 20 missing, while the GOP was without 11. Even if all the absent Democrats voted against the resolution, they would not have been able to sink the bill.
Democrats have defended Pelosi, saying that at the time she issued the challenge to Trump last week it was true that Republicans didn't have the votes. The showdown seemed to persuade many Republicans who opposed the wall to end up voting for the measure in a sign of solidarity.
"It led Republicans to vote for a policy that, you understand, they hadn't put on the floor for 11 months and 20 days," said Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton HoyerHillicon Valley: Google, Reddit to testify on tech industry protections | Trump joins Amazon-owned Twitch | House to vote on bill to combat foreign interference Overnight Health Care — Presented by Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing — Judge blocks Trump 'public charge' rule | Appeals court skeptical of Trump arguments for Medicaid work requirements | CDC offers guidance for treating vaping-related cases House to vote this month on legislation to combat foreign interference in elections MORE (Md.). "They didn't put it on the floor because they didn't think they could pass it."
Steny Hamilton HoyerHillicon Valley: Google, Reddit to testify on tech industry protections | Trump joins Amazon-owned Twitch | House to vote on bill to combat foreign interference Overnight Health Care — Presented by Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing — Judge blocks Trump 'public charge' rule | Appeals court skeptical of Trump arguments for Medicaid work requirements | CDC offers guidance for treating vaping-related cases House to vote this month on legislation to combat foreign interference in elections MORE (Md.). "They didn't put it on the floor because they didn't think they could pass it.""I think they got the votes because it became a political show of ability to do it, not because it's good policy," he added.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, shot back at Walker's comments about it not being 2009 anymore.
".@RepMarkWalker learned nothing today. First, it’s not 1950 anymore and women will lead the next Congress. Second, your vote for a #TrumpShutdown plan doesn’t show leadership but that you are hopelessly wedded to driving your party into oblivion. Good luck in the minority," he tweeted.
