Senate Republicans consider rejecting Wednesday’s border deal vote
Senate Republicans Likely to Block Test Vote on Ukraine-Border Legislation
Senate Republicans are poised to derail a test vote on the newly revamped Ukraine-border legislation, signaling trouble for the bill just one day after its release.
During a GOP conference meeting on Monday night, Republicans leaned towards voting ”no” en masse when the Senate takes its first procedural step towards advancing the legislation. This move aims to provide members with more time to review the 300-plus-page bill, addressing conservative concerns that the decision is being rushed.
Senator James Lankford, the chief Republican negotiator for the border portion of the legislation, stated, “I would anticipate Wednesday the cloture vote does not pass.” He added, “I think it’s the most likely scenario.”
While Republicans do not control the chamber, they can block the legislation from moving forward with 41 votes.
Republicans Demand Open Amendment Process
The Wednesday vote would only initiate debate on the bill, which could take weeks to consider in the upper chamber. However, some Republicans, such as Senator Mike Rounds, view the threat of a “no” vote as leverage to demand an open amendment process.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin expressed reservations that Republicans would abuse the process to oppose the bill, stating, “I came to the Senate when amendments were normal. I’d like to see us return to that. But I don’t want this to turn into a filibuster, which it easily could.”
A significant portion of the Republican conference opposes the bill due to the border component, claiming it would provide cover to the White House without effectively resolving the border crisis. Additionally, conservative skepticism towards the war in Ukraine further complicates the bill’s prospects.
Delaying the test vote would provide lawmakers with more time to review the text and give Republican leadership an opportunity to determine a path forward.
Senator Roger Wicker, an adviser to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, summarized the bill’s prospects as “dead.” Senator Joni Ernst, also part of McConnell’s leadership team, expressed uncertainty about finding a way forward.
The conference meeting was described as a “robust discussion,” with members urged not to undermine the conference in public. The desire for more time is partly about familiarizing rank-and-file members with the agreement.
McConnell’s challenge lies in securing the votes of a majority of his conference, or 25 of the Senate’s 49 Republicans. While delivering fewer votes may be enough for the bill to pass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, Lankford doubted the conference would take that approach.
Senator John Thune, who is undecided on the bill, acknowledged that Johnson’s declaration that the bill is “dead on arrival” in the House has influenced the Senate’s calculations.
Ultimately, the fate of the Ukraine-border legislation remains uncertain as Republicans push for more time and an open amendment process.
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What are the potential benefits of an open amendment process in shaping legislation according to different perspectives and priorities?
T process for the legislation. They argue that the bill should be subject to amendments and changes, allowing Senators to have their concerns addressed and making the process more transparent.
Senator Rounds stated, “There’s a large group of us that feel that it would be best to have an opportunity to offer amendments. It’s a way of giving everybody an opportunity to present their ideas.”
The demand for an open amendment process is not uncommon in Congress, as both parties have used it as a strategy in the past to shape legislation according to their priorities. Republicans argue that this would allow for a more inclusive and thorough debate on the bill, ensuring that all perspectives are considered.
Democrats, on the other hand, have expressed frustration with the Republican tactic, accusing them of intentionally obstructing progress. They argue that the legislation is urgently needed to address critical issues at the Ukraine-border, including the surge of migrants and the security challenges faced by border patrol agents.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “The situation is urgent for so many of our agencies. The situation is urgent for people living along the border.” Schumer criticized Republicans for obstructing the bill, claiming that they were putting their own political agendas ahead of the needs of the American people.
The rebuffed test vote highlights the challenges faced by President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats in advancing their policy priorities, particularly in a closely divided Senate. With a 50-50 split and Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote, Senate Democrats need unity within their ranks and the support of at least 10 Republicans to overcome any filibuster. However, with Republicans signaling their intention to block the test vote, the path to passing the legislation becomes significantly more difficult.
The Ukraine-border legislation includes critical provisions aimed at addressing the situation at the southern border and providing support to Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. It includes funding for border security, immigration reforms, and assistance to Ukraine in the form of military aid. The bill also seeks to address the root causes of migration by investing in the development and security of Central American countries.
As Senate Republicans prepare to block the test vote on the legislation, the fate of the bill remains uncertain. Democratic leaders will have to navigate the challenges of a divided Senate and work towards finding common ground with Republicans to advance their policy objectives. However, with Republicans demanding an open amendment process and expressing concerns about the rushed nature of the bill, reaching a compromise may prove to be a difficult task. Only time will tell the ultimate fate of the Ukraine-border legislation and its potential impact on the pressing issues it seeks to address.
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