On the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) denounced the $95 billion foreign aid package, calling it “legislative blackmail” to get Republicans to stop demanding border security. called.
The Senate is expected to approve a $95 billion foreign aid package. Republicans like Rubio oppose the policy because they believe additional aid to combat the migrant crisis at the southern border needs to be combined with legislation.
Rubio was one of 19 senators. be against Motion to invoke cloture on foreign aid packages.
The Florida senator said on the Senate floor that Congress needs to prioritize the problems facing the United States before tackling other issues.
“I have seniors and veterans who call my office and say, ‘I don’t have a place to live, housing is too expensive,’ and all we can do is usually wait. to help get you on the list” for Section 8 Housing. This is a problem that currently exists in America. ”
Rubio added, “But if you want to help Israel, if you want to help Taiwan, if you want to help Ukraine, if you want to ban TikTok, you have to vote to spend billions of dollars to donate to charity. Should we fly people across the country and put them in hotel rooms or help them resettle in another country?”
Rubio likened the bill to “legislative blackmail” and said lawmakers should abandon border security requirements in exchange for passage of foreign aid.
He said:
But this bill doesn’t do that. This bill is not a compromise. This bill basically says that if I don’t agree to ask the President to drop my demands to secure our borders, we will spend billions of taxpayer dollars around the world here and elsewhere. We’re saying we have to agree to resettle people. On our own immigration crisis, if I don’t agree with all of that, Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine won’t get the help they need, and I support that, but TikTok won’t be banned. . This is not a compromise. This is legislative intimidation, and I will not vote for intimidation. [Emphasis added]
This is not a compromise. This is legislative blackmail. And I don’t vote for intimidation. pic.twitter.com/atNSFeWxR1
— Sen. Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) April 23, 2024
Rubio represents a dwindling number of Republicans who oppose Congressional leadership’s foreign aid strategy.
In February, 29 senators opposed Foreign aid package.There are currently only 19 senators be against law.
Conservative leaders like Rachel Bovard point to the importance of Mr. Rubio in opposing the foreign aid package.
she wrote:
Senate Intel Committee Ranking Member Marco Rubio explains his vote against the UKR supplement bill on the Senate floor. He supports support for Ukraine, Israel and the sale of TikTok, but says, “This bill is not a compromise, it’s a legislative threat. And I’m not going to vote for a threat.” Because it also includes language about large-scale immigrant resettlement and does not include border security.
Senate Intel Committee Ranking Member Marco Rubio explains his vote against the UKR supplement bill on the Senate floor. He supports support for Ukraine, Israel and the sale of TikTok, but says, “This bill is not a compromise, it’s a legislative threat. And I won’t vote for it…”
— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) April 23, 2024
She added, “SCIF doesn’t work for everyone. How refreshing.”
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
