Republican supporters of aid to Ukraine are starting to look for a Plan B, recognizing that Senate bills to strengthen border security and address a number of foreign crises have died in the House. .
The bill's fierce opposition from conservatives has led some Republican senators to speculate that they might move on military aid to Ukraine without border reform.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-New York) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) say they are committed to bringing a package to the Senate floor that ties funding for Ukraine to border security reform. However, both senators say they are aware of it, and there is little chance it will reach President Biden's desk.
Senate Republicans said McConnell told colleagues in a meeting Wednesday that passing a border security bill in the middle of a Republican presidential primary would be a daunting task, raising the prospect of separating Ukraine funding from border security. I think that's why I came up with the idea that there is.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said, “I think it was done in the sense that I don't think the House is looking for a final product, and it's clear where our party's nominee is going to be.” I think so,” he said. ), referring to former President Trump's efforts to derail the Senate's border security bill.
One Republican senator, who requested anonymity to discuss intraparty dynamics, said Mr. McConnell knows that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) will not bring the bill to the House floor.
The senator said that Trump, who opposes the Senate's border bill, has “tremendous influence in the House, particularly in Mr. Johnson.”
“If he takes it, [the Senate bill] Okay, I think he's over,'' the councilor added.
A Senate Republican aide said Mr. McConnell appears to be seeking a “way out” to decouple funding to Ukraine from border security legislation.
A Republican senator who attended a special meeting on Ukraine funds Wednesday afternoon said McConnell was “creating the conditions” to move funds to Ukraine without any element of border reform. I speculated that the United States would try to include military aid to Ukraine in its regular spending package for the United States. Government until the end of this year.
To avoid a partial government shutdown, Congress must pass two funding packages by March 1 and March 8.
Senate Republican John Thune (S.D.), McConnell's chief of staff, told reporters Thursday that leaders still want to pass funding for Ukraine and border security reform in the same package. But the bill faces a “critical juncture” and leaders are “determining their next plan.”
Asked what Plan B would be, Thun quipped: “Hold that idea.”
Trump's easy wins in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary had a major impact on politics on Capitol Hill over border talks.
Brett Horton, chief of staff to House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), told the Senate Republican office during a luncheon Thursday that a Senate deal on Ukraine funding and border security will not happen. , sent a frank message. Get a vote in the House of Commons.
“Head Scalise stood up and the first thing he said was, 'This border bill, even if you send it to us, will expire on arrival. It's dead.' “I want to be clear about that, we will not take it up and we will not vote on it.” It's dead. Debate is over,” said a Senate Republican official familiar with comments from the meeting.
“So it sent a message,” the source said.
A person familiar with the comments from House Republican leadership said Johnson and Scalise have announced plans for 50,000 new green cards, faster work permits and stronger deportation powers that would be triggered once the number of people exceeds 4,000. He pointed out that he had publicly stated that he opposed the Senate bill that included it. 5,000 migrants cross the border every day.
Senate Republicans say Republican leadership confirmed these details in a meeting with staff.
Conservative opponents of the border security deal in the Senate are already pressuring Mr. McConnell not to even allow it to come to the floor, arguing that sending the deal to the House would only embarrass Speaker Johnson. There is.
“Mr. Schumer wants all the Senate Democrats to be able to say, 'Look, we tried to solve the border problem, but mean Republicans in Congress wouldn't let us.'” It's all about advertising. It's a hot topic. It's designed to fail, but to give you political cover to look like you're solving the problem,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“It is also intended that all members of the media and all Democrats will bash the Speaker every day from now until Election Day for not passing this horrible bill,” Cruz added.
Some Senate Republicans said Mr. Johnson would face an immediate motion to resign if he tried to pass a bill that so deeply divided the party. I'm predicting.
But Republican senators allied with McConnell want to pass Ukraine funding and border security reform at the same time, which conservative critics say mischaracterizes the bill. are doing.
They also allege that President Trump, who is in frequent contact with House Speaker Johnson, is behind the scenes trying to pass the bill with the sole purpose of depriving President Biden of major legislative victories on border security.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), a frequent critic of President Trump, called the president's efforts to stall the bill to keep the issue alive in the campaign “astounding.” Stated.
“He contacted his congressman and told him he doesn't want a border deal because he wants to run on this issue. It's appalling,” he said.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate leadership, said Trump could still run on border security even if Biden signs the Senate's border reform bill. .
“You can't turn off what's happening at the border like a water faucet. So this is going to continue to be an issue, and obviously a very potential political issue,” he said.
But Trump's allies say the bill is moot because it won't pass the House.
“It's not going to pass the House anyway,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
Cruz said Wednesday that the chances of the Senate's border deal passing the House are “zero point zero, zero, zero.”
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