[ad_1]
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) is in the middle of a political storm as he attempts to complete the daunting task of passing the Senate’s bipartisan border package amid mounting opposition. .
Mr. Lankford and his Senate negotiators have come under intense attack, primarily from opponents within Mr. Lankford’s own party. But their ability to repel the attack is limited as the specific documents are being kept secret until the end of this week and there are concerns that making the details public could derail negotiations.
The text of the bill has not yet been made public, but the key Republicans in the talks face a difficult task. The Senate is scheduled to take its first vote this week on President Biden’s emergency request for additional funding, including a border deal, aid for Ukraine and Israel, and other foreign policy priorities, and Lankford, with a majority in the Republican conference, I’ll aim to get into it. and prevent the border bill from being derailed prematurely.
“You can’t herd all cats,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “We all know he is probably the hardest working and most honorable member of our conference, and we have all wished him the best, but this is a really difficult thing to do. There is, and I think we are finding it.”
Lankford’s biggest issue is former President Trump’s anger over the border deal. The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination and a powerful figure within the party urged Lankford’s colleagues to refuse to pass any border legislation.
Mr. Lankford has also faced resistance from House Republican leaders, who have struggled to hide their frustration with falsehoods and “internet rumors” being spread about his bill.
Chief among them is the claim that the deal would allow 5,000 immigrants to enter the country in some form each day, a claim that is gaining ground among conservatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said the policy would “explicitly authorize up to 150,000 illegal entries per month,” but Lankford and another negotiator Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) called this claim completely false.
When asked Friday when the long delay in releasing the legislation would become a liability for negotiators, Lankford said, “Yeah, about four weeks ago.”
“The delays have made a difficult job even more difficult. It sucks the oxygen out of how much good is in it,” Lankford said, referring to changes to asylum standards and other items. “Everything gets sucked away when people say, ‘This will allow 5,000 people to come in.’ I’m like, ‘No, no, that’s not true.’ It doesn’t actually turn people around, it turns them around. ”
“It’s literally 180 times what everyone is describing. There’s a realization that someone is standing at the border with a clicker that counts 5,000. [migrants] In every day. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he continued.
A Senate Republican who requested anonymity recently likened Mr. Lankford, who is known for his calm demeanor, to a protective parent who protects his children.
“He’s really angry that people are calling this baby ugly because he’s bonded with this baby,” the Senate Republican said jokingly, adding that Lankford has been pushed by his leadership to push the effort. He added that he had repeatedly claimed that he was drafted into the military. “A few months ago, he could have been put up for adoption.”
The cards are not in Lankford’s favor at this point.
Two Senate Republicans told The Hill that the momentum in the chamber was against the border bill, with half of the 25 members in the chamber at the time Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York introduced the bill. He said it was unlikely to win support from Senate Republicans. It will be displayed on the floor next week.
The figures are thought to be crucial to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chances of introducing the bill in the Commons in the coming weeks, although he has warned that the bill will almost certainly be “killed once it is introduced”. This idea is already unlikely.
“The road is getting narrower. … I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R.N.D.) said of getting 25 Senate Republicans to support the bill. “I think it’s going in a different direction.”
In the face of this, Lankford has sought to dispel misconceptions about the bill, acknowledging that it is a “difficult increase” but that it will be a bumpy road before selling it to members of Congress. There is.
“Part of the mission will be to drive out the truth,” he said.
The spotlight is unfamiliar territory for Lankford, who has largely held behind-the-scenes roles throughout his nearly 10-year tenure in the Senate. However, he is widely considered to be qualified for the job.
Republicans view him as not only the most knowledgeable member of the council on border issues, but also a reliable negotiator.
But Lankford is suddenly facing political challenges unlike anything he’s seen before, including in his hometown. Oklahoma Republican Party passes resolution condemning negotiations with Democrats on package, even though some of his colleagues say he has more than his share of conservative integrity The plan was given the go-ahead.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate’s conservative Breakfast Club, said if the Republican conference was split down the middle, Lankford would be in the more conservative half. Deaf added.
Others agree.
“He’s not a grumpy guy,” Kramer said with a laugh. “If you’re a conservative who seems to have too much fun, some people will confuse you with a liberal.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
[ad_2]
Source link