On Tuesday, Senate Democrats acknowledged the internal resistance and uphill battle the bipartisan border package that leadership intends to introduce later this week is facing. The bill has been dubbed “toothless.”
Republicans now claim the plan offers zero security, while in February, it was connected to foreign money for Ukraine and Israel specifically as a border security measure.
Although she supported it in February, Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski now labels it “dumb,” saying that the “other side” is now going to use it in a way to perhaps frame some of their troubled incumbents in a better place. They aren’t confident in their ability to pass. Accordingly, it’s only messaging from their end, the Alaskan senator said.
The Democrat from Connecticut and one of the bill’s architects, Sen. Chris Murphy, is predicting even less Democratic support this time around. The bill’s 50-49 defeat in February was terrible enough, and it’s going to be far worse this week.
Murphy suspects a couple of Democrats who voted yes on that bill because of the Ukraine money will vote no this time.
Among his Republican colleagues, Oklahoma’s James Lankford has already indicated his intention to vote against it. The plan will probably get no votes from Republicans this week.
The bill’s “genuine” status is being questioned by Maine Republican Susan Collins and Utah Republican Mitt Romney, who are both referring to it as a “ploy.” Their votes were cast for it three months ago.
According to Republican South Dakota Senate Minority Whip John Thune’s commentary in The Wall Street Journal, Democratic senators aren’t motivated by national security.
Thune said the left’s political fragility is a source of anxiety for them. It’s too late now, but they see the political liability of an open border and its instability.
Republicans in the House have declared the plan “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber, even if it were to pass the Senate.
