Currently two Republican senators — Susan Collins (Maine) and Rand Paul (Ky.) — have publicly said they continue to oppose the GOP’s health-care bill. Just one more “no” vote from a Republican senator would mean the bill would not have the 50 votes it needs to pass.
When Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced he needed to recover from surgery and would be absent from a vote Saturday night, McConnell said the Senate would postpone the vote.
The incident at Heller’s office follows similar incidents involving other GOP senators in recent weeks. Over the July Fourth recess, a protester was arrested outside the Tucson office of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) after asking a staffer, “You know how liberals are going to solve the Republican problem? They are going to get better aim.” And an Omaha man was arrested this month after walking into an Iowa motorcycle shop and saying that he “could kill” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who was scheduled to visit the shop the next day.
The break-in also came just three days after the Federal Election Commission ruled that House and Senate lawmakers may now use campaign funds to pay for security upgrades at their personal homes — a change from previous rulings that required lawmakers to petition the panel on a case-by-case basis. But after warnings from House and Senate security officials in the wake of the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), the FEC said that security upgrades now qualify as “ordinary and necessary expenses” lawmakers incur as part of official duties.
Security upgrades at congressional district offices are handled with taxpayer funding and Congress is preparing to spend tens of millions more dollars to protect lawmakers and their staffs. All 435 House lawmakers are receiving $25,000 in emergency funding added to their annual office allowances to be used for any security purpose — a nearly $10.9 million expense that can be used to add bulletproof windows at district offices or to hire a private security guard for public events back home. And at least $5 million is earmarked for the House Sergeant at Arms to pay for security upgrades at House district offices that face threats or are considered vulnerable.
The Senate, which has fewer district offices to protect, has not yet allotted such money. Responsibility for securing Senate district offices, which are usually found in federal buildings or courthouses, depends on the location. If it shares space with a federal agency that also has a law enforcement responsibility, that agency likely provides protection. If the office is in a courthouse, U.S. Marshals likely provide security. But if the office is in a private building, a senator’s staff has likely made arrangements with local police or the building’s private security officers to keep an eye on the location.
This post has been updated
Article Appeared @https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/07/17/police-investigating-break-in-at-gop-senators-office/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_hp-card-politics%3Ahomepage%2Fcard&utm_term=.34ffd04fedab