Seven Republican Senators joined Democrats in an attempt to block President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the amendment was introduced during a “vote-a-rama” tied to the Republicans’ reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement agencies until the end of Trump’s term. The motion sought to prohibit funding of the new ballroom from either federal funds or private donations without congressional authorization. “There is a plan to construct a billion-dollar ballroom, gold plated, without any action by Congress to authorize it,” Merkley said on the Senate floor. “This amendment is very simple, it says that congressional authorization is needed to proceed.” The measure failed to reach the 60 votes required for passage, falling short with a 53-46 count.…