House Republicans are taking a victory lap around Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiSenate Republicans tested on Trump support after Mueller End of Mueller shifts focus to existing probes Democrats renew attacks on Trump attorney general MORE (D-Calif.) after GOP lawmakers passed a funding bill that would provide $5 billion for President Trump
Donald John TrumpThorny part of obstruction of justice is proving intent, that's a job for Congress Obama condemns attacks in Sri Lanka as 'an attack on humanity' Schiff rips Conway's 'display of alternative facts' on Russian election interference MORE's proposed border wall.
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiSenate Republicans tested on Trump support after Mueller End of Mueller shifts focus to existing probes Democrats renew attacks on Trump attorney general MORE (D-Calif.) after GOP lawmakers passed a funding bill that would provide $5 billion for President TrumpDonald John TrumpThorny part of obstruction of justice is proving intent, that's a job for Congress Obama condemns attacks in Sri Lanka as 'an attack on humanity' Schiff rips Conway's 'display of alternative facts' on Russian election interference MORE's proposed border wall.“Nancy Pelosi learned two things today," Rep. Mark Walker
Bradley (Mark) Mark WalkerMembers spar over sexual harassment training deadline Colorado state senators plan to introduce bill to let NCAA athletes get paid Republicans offer 'free market alternative' to paid family leave 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 WalkerMembers spar over sexual harassment training deadline Colorado state senators plan to introduce bill to let NCAA athletes get paid Republicans offer 'free market alternative' to paid family leave 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 ColeLawmaker alleges political payback in failed 'deepfakes' measure The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Pass USMCA Coalition - Dems look for traction following Barr-Mueller findings Dems shift strategy for securing gun violence research funds MORE (R-Okla.) said the bill's passage was a setback for Pelosi, who is expected to become Speaker in January.
Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeLawmaker alleges political payback in failed 'deepfakes' measure The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Pass USMCA Coalition - Dems look for traction following Barr-Mueller findings Dems shift strategy for securing gun violence research funds 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 ConawayDems ramp up subpoena threats GOP zeroes in on Schiff Pelosi rushes to Schiff's defense MORE (R-Texas).
Kenneth (Mike) Michael ConawayDems ramp up subpoena threats GOP zeroes in on Schiff Pelosi rushes to Schiff's defense MORE (R-Texas).House Majority Whip Steve Scalise
Stephen (Steve) Joseph Scalise20 years after Columbine, Dems bullish on gun reform GOP to launch discharge petition on anti-BDS measure This week: Democrats revive net neutrality fight MORE (R-La.) said Friday that the vote was a show of force to Pelosi on behalf of Trump.
Stephen (Steve) Joseph Scalise20 years after Columbine, Dems bullish on gun reform GOP to launch discharge petition on anti-BDS measure This week: Democrats revive net neutrality fight 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 SwalwellCory Booker has a problem in 2020: Kamala Harris 2020 Democrats commemorate 20-year anniversary of Columbine shooting Hillicon Valley: House Dems subpoena full Mueller report | DOJ pushes back at 'premature' subpoena | Dems reject offer to view report with fewer redactions | Trump camp runs Facebook ads about Mueller report | Uber gets B for self-driving cars MORE (D-Calif.), a potential 2020 contender, was in Iowa when the vote took place.
Eric Michael SwalwellCory Booker has a problem in 2020: Kamala Harris 2020 Democrats commemorate 20-year anniversary of Columbine shooting Hillicon Valley: House Dems subpoena full Mueller report | DOJ pushes back at 'premature' subpoena | Dems reject offer to view report with fewer redactions | Trump camp runs Facebook ads about Mueller report | Uber gets B for self-driving cars 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 NealOn The Money: House Dem says marijuana banking bill will get vote in spring | Buttigieg joins striking Stop & Shop workers | US home construction slips in March | Uber gets B investment for self-driving cars Democrats should be careful wielding more investigations Dem House chairs: Mueller report 'does not exonerate the president' MORE (D-Mass.), the likely incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Richard Edmund NealOn The Money: House Dem says marijuana banking bill will get vote in spring | Buttigieg joins striking Stop & Shop workers | US home construction slips in March | Uber gets B investment for self-driving cars Democrats should be careful wielding more investigations Dem House chairs: Mueller report 'does not exonerate the president' 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 HoyerHouse Dem dismisses impeachment push: 'I'd rather defeat' Trump at ballot box Democrats renew attacks on Trump attorney general Impeachment? Not so fast without missing element of criminal intent MORE (Md.). "They didn't put it on the floor because they didn't think they could pass it."
Steny Hamilton HoyerHouse Dem dismisses impeachment push: 'I'd rather defeat' Trump at ballot box Democrats renew attacks on Trump attorney general Impeachment? Not so fast without missing element of criminal intent 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.
