Democrats force vote on Trump’s $1.8bn settlement fund in ‘vote-a-rama’

Republicans in the U.S. Senate are pushing a $70 billion immigration-enforcement funding bill, a priority for President Donald Trump. However, Democrats are using the process, known as a "vote-a-rama," to force votes on amendments that spotlight controversies from Trump's time in office.

Democrats aim to make Republicans answer for issues ranging from Trump's White House dealings to his tariff policies and the war in Iran. Early in the process, Republicans faced a vote on Trump's proposed $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Critics have labeled this fund a slush fund for Trump allies, and its optics could be damaging ahead of the midterm elections.

The fund was established as part of a settlement following a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, intended to compensate alleged victims of politically motivated prosecution. While the Department of Justice has since distanced itself from the scheme, Trump has not confirmed if it's canceled or merely on hold. Democrats have pushed for an outright ban, but Senate Republicans rejected their measure to permanently block the fund. A similar amendment by Republican Tom Tillis, which would have redirected the funds to an anti-fraud initiative, was also rejected.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that further amendments would address the permanent immunity from tax audits that Trump secured for himself and his family, as well as other controversial aspects of his immigration enforcement campaign. The "vote-a-rama" promises a series of votes on issues designed to be uncomfortable for the Republican Party.

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Amendment after amendment, vote after vote, Republicans are going to have to answer to the American people.