President Trump is fuming that Senate Republicans not only keep the legislative filibuster but also the Democrat-appointed parliamentarian who decides what policies can escape it.
The president’s public questioning of why Republicans have not fired Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough comes as they try to pass a filibuster-proof budget reconciliation package funding immigration enforcement agencies and security upgrades to the White House.
Ms. MacDonough was appointed when Democrats controlled the White House and the Senate under then-Majority Leader Harry Reid, but her role is to serve as the nonpartisan rules referee.
She makes the final call on what policies can be included in reconciliation and which are still subject to the filibuster.
“Over the years, she has been brutal to Republicans, but not so to the Dumocrats — So why has she not been replaced?” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “There are many fair people who would be qualified for that vital job.”
Mr. Trump privately urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to fire Ms. MacDonough after she ruled that $1 billion for the Secret Service that Republicans included in the reconciliation package was not exempt from the filibuster as written.
The provision explicitly said that some of the money would be used for security upgrades to the White House’s East Wing modernization project, which includes construction of a 1,000-seat ballroom.
Ms. MacDonough ruled that appropriating funding for the project would fall under the jurisdiction of more committees than were provided instructions to write the bill.
Senate GOP leaders have been trying to write the provision to comply with the budget reconciliation rules but are facing opposition within their ranks to retaining any taxpayer funding for the ballroom project.
The Senate could vote to overrule the parliamentarian, but both parties have generally avoided doing so as they view such a move as akin to eliminating the filibuster.
The office of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth …
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Mr. Trump’s post did not specifically reference Ms. MacDonough’s ruling on the ballroom funding, but that is the only provision in the package still under dispute.
“Republicans allow the Elizabeth MacDonoughs of the World to stay in power, and brutalize us,” he said.
The president’s desire to get rid of the parliamentarian is part of his broader frustration with Senate Republicans for refusing to eliminate the filibuster even though he is convinced Democrats will do so if they ever regain control of the chamber.
“The Republicans play a very soft game compared to the Dumocrats,” he said. “It is their single biggest disadvantage in politics.”
Mr. Trump had also referenced his frustration over Senate Republicans not eliminating the filibuster and passing the SAVE America Act, a bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot, in a Tuesday post endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for Senate over incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn.
His Wednesday post fired another warning shot at the Republicans who continue to defy his wishes.
“Get smart and tough Republicans, or you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!” Mr. Trump said.
