Thirty-four GOP members buck Trump on disaster bill

Thirty-four House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a disaster relief bill Friday despite President Trump advocating for the GOP conference to vote against the measure.

A senior leadership source said the number of GOP defectors was lower than initially anticipated, with Trump’s tweet pushing back on the legislation amping up pressure for members to vote against it.

The president blasted the bill due to what he felt was excessive funding allocated toward Puerto Rico recovery efforts, arguing the island has mismanaged the aid sent to the island.

{mosads}Defectors were largely made up of members that represent areas that were impacted by the California wildfires, flooding in the midwest and Texas and stated impacted by Hurricanes. Other GOP members took issue with language in the bill that would have provided community block grants for Planned Parenthood.

“I will always support legislation that prioritizes the needs of my district,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on his decision to vote yes.

Republicans who approved the bill: Rick Allen (Ga.), Don Bacon (Neb.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Michael Bost (Ill.), Buddy Carter (Ga.), Dan Crenshaw (Texas), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Neal Dunn (Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.), Sam Graves (Mo.), Richard Hudson (N.C.), Will Hurd (Texas), Dusty Johnson (S.D.), John Katko (N.Y.), Steve King (Iowa), Pete King (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Doug LaMalfa (Calif.), McCaul, David McKinley (W.Va.), Dan Newhouse (Wash.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Tom Rice (S.C.), Martha Roby (Ala.), David Rouzer (N.C.), Austin Scott (Ga.), Adrien Smith (Neb.), Chris Smith (N.J.), Ross Spano (Fla.), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Steve Stivers (Ohio), Fred Upton (Mich.) and Greg Walden (Ore.).

Senate lawmakers have been attempting to finalize a disaster bill that can pass both chambers, with some expressing their frustrations to the White House and calling on the president to agree to a deal.