For second time, GOP conservatives block disaster relief package over cost, lack of border funding

House conservatives blocked a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill from clearing Congress, the second time in a week the proposal has failed to reach President Trump's desk.

Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a fiscally conservative faction of the GOP, were present in the House chamber Tuesday afternoon when Democrats attempted to pass the disaster relief bill by unanimous consent, which doesn’t require a roll call vote.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., made the objection, arguing a roll call vote should be held on the measure.

“If the speaker of this House felt that we must pass this legislation, the speaker of the House should have called a vote on this bill before sending every member of Congress on recess for 10 days,” Massie said.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., also present in the chamber, urged Massie to drop his objection to the bill, which he said “needs to be passed as soon as possible for the welfare of the people in this country who have been attacked by natural disasters.”