Senators Doubt Passage of Proposed Legislation
Senators from the Republican Party are expressing skepticism about the passage of the proposed border bill. Sen. Bill Hagerty, a member of the appropriations committee, stated in an interview that he believed the bill would not pass and predicted 40 “no” votes in the chamber. So far, 25 senators have already vowed to vote against the cloture motion, making it likely that the bill will not reach the necessary votes to move forward.
In the interview, Hagerty criticized the bill, stating that it was preposterous to blame Republicans for the crisis at the southern border. He suggested that if the bill fails, the Senate should consider the GOP-led bill that would restore Trump-era policies. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already deemed this bill a “nonstarter.”
Divisions within the Republican Party
Sen. James Lankford, a lead Republican negotiator, indicated that he is considering voting against the package, even though he supports it. House Republicans have already vowed to tank the bill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may also vote against the cloture. McConnell and Republican leaders are expected to hold a press conference to discuss the bill further.
Other senators, such as Lindsey Graham, have expressed their support for certain aspects of the bill but believe that changes need to be made to make it better. There are divisions within the Republican Party about whether to support the bill or not.
Criticism from Both Sides
The proposed legislation has also drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso stated that the bill does not meet the standard of securing the border and criticized the incentives it leaves in place. Democrat Sen. Alex Padilla argued that the bill goes too far to the right and fails to address the root causes of migration.
The proposed legislation, totaling just over $118 billion with 50,000 new visas, aims to gain control of the overwhelmed asylum system and proposes tougher and quicker enforcement. It includes provisions that allow the president to suspend the border emergency authority if deemed necessary.
Overall, the future of the border bill remains uncertain, with Senators expressing doubts about its passage and divisions within the Republican Party. The bill continues to face criticism from both sides of the aisle.