[ad_1]
A major bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package is expected to fail in the Senate later this week, a day after it was announced, amid persistent attacks on the deal by former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.
Republicans, including President Trump, oppose the deal, even though it represents harsh changes to immigration law and gives the president broad powers to restrict the entry of illegal immigrants at the southern border. They attack the agreement as too weak. The grim prospects facing the bill also put aid to key U.S. allies, Ukraine and Israel, at risk, and it is unclear whether Congress will be able to pass foreign aid separately. Speaker Mike Johnson has already said the border deal will be null and void on arrival in the House of Commons.
Only 41 senators would have to vote against the bill to kill the deal in a procedural vote scheduled for Wednesday, but 23 senators have already publicly expressed their opposition.
Asked Monday about his position on the border bill after leaving a meeting in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker said, “This proposal is dead.” I think so.”
Republican officials said Mr. McConnell, who helped negotiate the package, told Republican senators to vote however they like when the Senate takes key procedural votes on the bill on Wednesday. He said he should. Many Republican senators said Wednesday was too early and they needed more time to consider the complex policies announced Sunday night. McConnell suggested that senators should be free to vote against consideration of the bill, effectively blocking debate on the floor.
Sen. James Lankford, the top Republican negotiator for the deal, told reporters Monday night that he doesn’t think the deal will have enough support to move forward Wednesday.
The Oklahoma Republican did not say Wednesday whether he would vote to advance the bill, saying even if he did vote “no,” it would only give lawmakers time to read the bill and raise issues. . You may pass in the end.
“It’s not like I don’t have a set bill for myself. I think it’s good to be able to do that,” he said. “The biggest problem I have is that obviously there are a lot of members who have doubts about it. If we try to make this enforceable right now, it won’t move and it won’t become law. there is no.”
In addition to border security provisions, the massive $118.2 billion legislative package includes billions of dollars to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia, security assistance to Israel, and humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. It would provide aid to key U.S. allies overseas. , the West Bank and Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday that the House of Commons will vote on a standalone bill to provide aid to Israel this week, increasing pressure on senators to abandon efforts to link aid to Israel with other issues.
But President Joe Biden will veto any unilateral aid package for Israel, the White House announced Monday.
“The administration is committed to reaching a national security agreement that secures borders and provides assistance to the peoples of Ukraine and Israel, while providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected civilians around the world.” , spent months working with a bipartisan group of senators,” the White House said in a statement. “Instead of honestly addressing our most pressing national security challenges, this bill is yet another cynical political ploy.”
The border agreement was signed by three senators: Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Sen. Lankford, one of the most conservative Republicans in Congress. It is the result of months of bipartisan negotiations.
So far, 20 Republican senators have publicly criticized the bill, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Republican leadership. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a prominent Republican, also said he had serious concerns about the policy.
A majority of Senate Republicans currently oppose the bill or are actively planning a “no” vote in the first procedural vote on the package.
“People are still reviewing and digesting the text, and we’re going to figure out a path forward from there based on input from members,” Senate Republican Leader John Thune said Monday.
As for his personal stance on the bill, Thune said he hasn’t decided yet.
“I’m just like everyone else. I’m reviewing the text. I think James Lankford did the best he could and got the best deal he could under the circumstances. This is a sign that our conference “It’s something I wanted to do,” he said. “Let’s see what happens.”
He acknowledged that House Republican leadership said the bill was dysfunctional upon its arrival, “complicating” things in the Senate.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said Wednesday he plans to vote to filibuster the border deal. But he also argued that bipartisan Senate leadership should reach an agreement to give senators more time to fully consider and evaluate the border deal. A floor debate should then be set up to allow for a vote on amendments to amend the bill.
He said this approach could allow him to pass funding for Ukraine and Israel, which Schumer supports, and address the border deal for longer than the three-day notice Schumer has allowed. .
“I think we deserve time to debate the bill and amend it,” he said. “There is still work to be done.”
Two Democratic senators, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California, have publicly attacked the bill.
Menendez called the agreement “unacceptable” in a statement Sunday night, adding: “Accepting this agreement as written would be a complete betrayal of the communities we are sworn to protect and represent. ” he said. If these changes had been considered under the Trump administration, Democrats would be furious, but because we want to win elections, Latinos and immigrants now find themselves on the sacrificial altar. Dew. ”
Padilla said in a statement that this was “missing the point,” adding that “chaos at the border causes more chaos, not less,” adding: “Relief for Dreamers, farm workers, and other illegal aliens. I can’t,” he added. They contribute billions of dollars to our economy, work in essential jobs, and make America stronger for our country. ”
Padilla suggested Monday that there are more Democrats opposed to the bill than people realize, making it even harder for the bill to get 60 votes to advance Wednesday.
Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, also said in a statement on Sunday that he opposes funding for Israel, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and saying, “The United States is committed to Netanyahu’s horrific war against the Palestinian people.” We cannot continue to provide funding.”
Supporters of the deal have pushed back against criticism, arguing that it is a misrepresentation of what the bill would do.
Mr. Lankford, the Republican’s chief negotiator, said Sunday that he was “embarrassed” by Mr. Johnson’s criticism, and Mr. Johnson said the deal Mr. Lankford had struck with Democrats was “worse than we expected.” ” he declared.
“It’s a little disconcerting that things are getting worse than expected as we build a border wall, expand deportation flights, expand ICE officers, Border Patrol agents, and detention beds. The deportation process… How will it be expedited? How will many of the long-standing problems and loopholes that have existed in the asylum process that stop border chaos be ironed out? So I’m a little confused. Actual text You need to work with a team of speakers to find out what is “worse than expected” based on. I wish I had a chance to actually read the text,” Lankford told reporters on a conference call.
He said he planned to “candidly” discuss concerns about the bill with Republican senators this week ahead of Wednesday’s key test vote, adding that he believed there were “misconceptions” about how the bill would work. Stated.
This article and heading have been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Manu Raju, Kristin Wilson and Nikki Carvajal contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link
