On Wednesday, Republican Senators blocked the compromised “border security” bill that would have directed more funds to foreign nations while largely neglecting the wide-open US Southern border.
According to The Hill, “A motion to proceed to the package failed by a vote of 49-50, with most of the Senate GOP conference voting against it. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), James Lankford (Okla.) and Mitt Romney (Utah) voted to advance the measure.”
The Senate’s $118.28 billion national security supplemental package includes $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
However, only $20.23 billion was earmarked to fortify the US border amidst an unprecedented influx of military-aged males from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and China.
A procedural vote to advance the disastrous $118 billion ‘border security’ package with the bulk being aid for Ukraine has failed to meet the 60 votes needed for the bill to advance to the House. The final vote was 49 to 50.
— Blue Owl (@BlueOwlHoots) February 7, 2024
Chuck Schumer plans to force a vote on Ukraine aid. pic.twitter.com/wdE8jwQjaH
Introduced on Sunday, the package encountered significant resistance from conservative Republicans in both legislative bodies, resulting in its failure to pass. The measure fell short with a vote tally of 49 in favor and 50 against, lacking the required 60 votes for approval.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declared on Tuesday that the Senate bill was essentially dead on arrival.
Rather than acknowledging flaws in the border security bill, McConnell attributed his change in stance to a shift in the “political mood” of the country.
“Most of our members feel that we’re not going to be able to make a law here,” McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that he would proceed with a contingency plan.
“Schumer told members of his caucus and the White House last week that if the Republicans scuttled the bipartisan border and supplemental agreement, he had prepared a plan to use the motion to reconsider to force Republicans to vote on the supplemental without border [reforms],” the aide said, according to The Hill.
Fox News reported:
The package had been negotiated for months by Sens. Lankford, Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Biden administration officials — and it was unveiled on Sunday evening. The $118 billion package included $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, aid to Taiwan and humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and $20 billion in measures to tackle the historic and ongoing crisis at the southern border. It came in response to a White House supplemental funding request submitted to Congress late last year.
At the core of the border package was an “emergency border authority” to mandate Title 42-style expulsions of migrants when migration levels exceed 5,000 a day over a seven-day rolling average. It also would narrow asylum eligibility while expediting the process from years to months, provide immediate work permits for asylum seekers and fund a massive increase in staffing at the border and more immigration judges. It also includes increased numbers of green cards, extra funding for NGOs and cities receiving migrants, $650 million for border wall funding and $450 million for countries to take back and re-settle illegal immigrants.
But while the administration and negotiators talked the bill up as a tough but fair way to tackle the border crisis, Republicans in the House immediately declared it a non-starter and conservative opposition in the Senate quickly stacked up. More than 20 Republican lawmakers in the upper chamber argued this week the provisions would not sufficiently reduce the historic number of illegal migrant crossings, and warned it would normalize record-high levels of illegal immigration.
President Trump vehemently opposed the deal on Monday, expressing his views on Truth Social.
The ridiculous “Border” Bill is nothing more than a highly sophisticated trap for Republicans to assume the blame on what the Radical Left Democrats have done to our Border, just in time for our most important EVER Election. Don’t fall for it!!!
Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done. This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party. It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. Don’t be STUPID!!! We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
Just last week, Oklahoma Republicans publicly criticized Senator James Lankford (R-OK) for his role in the “bipartisan” border deal, highlighting a division within the party regarding immigration policies.
The Oklahoma Republican Party has suspended ‘all support’ for their senior Senator James Lankford over his negotiations on the ‘Border Bill’ that’ll lead to EXPANDING the influx of illegals, not STOP THEM.
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) January 29, 2024
“He’s playing fast and loose, putting the safety and security of… pic.twitter.com/rERehtnkwy
