Senate adopts House plan after dropping border security amendment.
Senate Republicans Abandon Border Amendment Plan
Senate Republicans have made a surprising decision to scrap their plan of attaching a border amendment to their continuing resolution. This comes after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy introduced a new plan to put a clean funding stop-gap bill on the floor, aiming to keep the government open for 45 days.
A group of mostly Republican senators, along with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), had been working on an amendment that would provide billions in border security funding, in an attempt to appease House Republicans. However, due to insufficient support in the Senate, the amendment is now dead.
“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t reach an agreement on border provisions,” expressed Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Saturday morning.
House to Push 45-Day Continuing Resolution
McCarthy made an abrupt change to the plan on Saturday morning, announcing that the House would be considering a 45-day continuing resolution. This resolution would include funds for disaster relief but would exclude funding for Ukraine, as the possibility of a government shutdown looms. Initially, McCarthy had stated earlier in the week that he wanted to see immigration policy changes added to the continuing resolution.
Senators will convene to vote on their version of the continuing resolution later on Saturday afternoon. The legislation would allocate nearly $6 billion in aid to Ukraine, split between the Defense Department and the State Department. It would also provide almost $6 billion in disaster relief.
On Friday night, McCarthy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make it clear that the Senate’s continuing resolution “has no path forward” in the House.
Tillis, a strong advocate for aid to Ukraine, expressed his willingness to consider a clear continuing resolution without that funding. “At this point, I would support anything that keeps the government running,” Tillis stated, reflecting on the House’s current plan, which does not include aid to Ukraine.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the No. 2 Senate Republican, mentioned that they will be closely monitoring the House vote. “I believe it could pass; we just don’t know if they can get it through,” he told reporters on Saturday. “We are waiting to see what they decide.”
Senate Democrats and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have yet to comment on the House’s plan.
Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
What is the importance of prioritizing keeping the government open over pushing for border security funding?
R, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced on Tuesday that Senate Republicans had decided to abandon their border amendment plan.
The decision to scrap the amendment comes as a surprise, as Republicans had been pushing for increased border security funding for months. However, with the new plan introduced by Speaker McCarthy, it seems Senate Republicans have chosen to prioritize keeping the government open over pushing for border security funding.
The clean funding stop-gap bill introduced by Speaker McCarthy aims to ensure that the government remains open for the next 45 days, providing a temporary solution to the ongoing funding issues. While this bill does not include any provisions for border security funding, it does provide the necessary funds to keep the government operational.
The decision to abandon the border amendment plan reflects the changing dynamics within the Republican Party. There has been a growing divide between moderate Republicans, like Senator Sinema, who favor compromise and bipartisan solutions, and more conservative members who are adamant about demanding increased funding for border security.
This divide within the Republican Party has made it difficult for lawmakers to reach a consensus on funding the government. In abandoning the border amendment plan, Senate Republicans are acknowledging the need for a bipartisan solution that can garner enough support to pass both chambers of Congress.
The decision also reflects the urgency to keep the government open and functioning smoothly. With several pressing issues requiring immediate attention, including the ongoing pandemic, economic recovery, and infrastructure investments, lawmakers are recognizing the importance of maintaining government operations to address these challenges effectively.
It remains to be seen how this decision will affect the ongoing negotiations on government funding and border security. However, it is clear that Senate Republicans have chosen a temporary solution to prevent a government shutdown and provide more time for discussions on long-term funding and policy priorities.
The abandonment of the border amendment plan highlights the challenges of governing in a deeply divided political landscape. As lawmakers navigate the complex dynamics and strive for bipartisan cooperation, compromises have to be made to ensure the continuity of government operations. The coming weeks will undoubtedly test the ability of lawmakers to find common ground and address the pressing issues facing the nation.
In conclusion, Senate Republicans have made the surprising decision to abandon their border amendment plan, opting instead for a clean funding stop-gap bill. This move highlights the changing dynamics within the Republican Party and the urgency to keep the government open and functioning effectively. As negotiations on government funding continue, lawmakers will be tested to find bipartisan solutions that address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
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