Trump tweets — and Dems pull two bills from floor

House Democrats pulled two bills from the floor schedule on Wednesday after President Trump tweeted his opposition and encouraged Republicans to vote against one of the measures.

Trump’s tweets heightened the possibility that the measures would be defeated on the floor, particularly since they were being considered under the suspension of House rules — and would have required two-thirds majorities for passage.

{mosads}Trump urged Republicans to vote against a measure that would end a legal challenge to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s reservation in Massachusetts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a presidential candidate who Trump has repeatedly feuded with, backs the bill and Trump used her support to press his party to oppose it.

“Republicans shouldn’t vote for H.R. 312, a special interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren,” Trump tweeted, using his derisive nickname for Warren. “It is unfair and doesn’t treat Native Americans equally!”

The measure would end a legal challenge to the tribe’s reservation that has been brought by opponents of its proposed casino. The proposed casino would be built by the Malaysian gaming conglomerate Genting.

The Department of the Interior reversed plans to reserve 321 acres for the tribe after a lawsuit was filed, according to The Cape Cod Times.

The measure backed by Warren also has GOP support in the House, but had drawn opposition from conservatives even before Trump’s tweet.

Critics of the bill have taken issue with Genting’s involvement in the casino.

“They have fronted the Mashpee tribe over $500 million, and it’s all about this casino in Taunton,” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said in an interview.

The second bill pulled from the schedule was backed by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and would have affirmed the federal government’s right to place land into a trust for a tribe’s benefit.

Democrats criticized Trump’s tweet and said they would consider the bill opposed by Trump and backed by Warren in a simple House vote next week that would not require a two-thirds majority.

They said they would still consider the Cole bill under suspension next week.

“The president he sent out a tweet, which was silly — I’m trying to use the kind of words I can use — it was the wrong thing to do,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) criticized Trump’s tweet given lobbying on the bill by Matthew Schlapp, who is married to White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp.

“With this tweet, President Trump is not only allowing special interest lobbyists like Matt Schlapp – who happens to be married to his staffer – to direct federal policy, but reinforcing the federal government’s ugly history of oppression towards Indian tribes,” Gallego said.

Matthew Schlapp, a lobbyist for Cove Strategies, is one of four lobbyists representing Twin River Management Group, which owns two casinos in Rhode Island.

Twin River has Cove Strategies on a $30,000 retainer and also retains Black Diamond Strategies and Locke Lord Public Policy Group, both at $30,000. Hans Klingler with Black Diamond Strategies, former chief of staff to former Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), is another familiar lobbyist on retainer.

Alex Gangitano contributed.