A conservative Texas congressman who on Friday single-handedly blocked a $19 billion bipartisan disaster aid package for communities and farms devastated by hurricanes, floods and wildfires drew scathing rebukes from Democrats and even some fellow Republicans.
But not from Sen. Mike Lee, who instead gave Rep. Chip Roy an unequivocal attaboy.
Roy by himself was able to block the package, already passed by the Senate and endorsed by President Donald Trump, because many House members had already departed Washington for the holiday weekend. Under a parliamentary maneuver called unanimous consent, the legislation could pass without a majority vote in the House, but only if there were no opposing votes.