Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said Wednesday that Democrats who voted for the Laken-Reilly Act were “playing politics.”
When NewsNation's Blake Berman asked Mullin if Democrats voting yes on the bill meant they were siding with Republicans on the issue, Mullin said he didn't think so. Ta.
“I can't say they're going our way,” he said, noting that some Democrats are from states that President Trump won in November.
“So they're playing politics with it,” Marin later added.
Marin then referenced the bill's murderous namesake, saying, “This was a senseless act and could have been addressed.”
“It was foreseeable two years ago,” he added. “If they were serious, Miss Riley would be alive today. … This law, this bill … was introduced when Chuck Schumer was in control of the Senate.”
Both Congresses this week passed the Laken-Riley Act, which requires the detention of large numbers of immigrants without legal status. The bill was largely supported by Republicans in both chambers, but also received support votes from many Democrats.
Democratic voters supporting Laken Riley in the House include Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), Rep. Marie Grusenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D.N.). There were also moderate members such as Congressman Tom Suozzi (D.J.) and Tom Suozzi (D.N.Y.). Senate voters include Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
Mullin said of the Laken Riley Act, “I always tell people that policy is right, but timing is more important than policy on Capitol Hill, and timing will never be right under a Joe Biden administration.'' There wasn't.”
In a post to X earlier this month, Gallego wrote: said beyond “Vote Yes on the Laken Riley Act and I will co-sponsor the bill.”
“Arizonas know better than anyone the true impact of today's border crisis. We must give law enforcement the tools to take action to prevent tragedies like the one that happened to Laken Riley. No,” he added.
The Hill has reached out to Biden and Schumer's offices for comment.
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