McConnell says filibuster is secure with Republican Senate majority
Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the filibuster is secure now that Republicans have won a majority in the chamber. McConnell made the comment to reporters while taking a victory lap the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 6.
“This shifting to a Republican Senate Majority helps control the guardrails to keep people who want to change the rules in order to achieve something they think is worthwhile is not successful,” McConnell said. “So I think the filibuster is very secure.”
The Senate’s filibuster allows for unlimited debate on legislation and can only be overcome with 60 votes. Without that supermajority, bills cannot be approved.
In January 2022, Democrats tried and failed to alter the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.
Earlier this year, senior Senate Democrats told Straight Arrow News they would reconsider changing the Senate’s filibuster rules if they held the majority. They were unable to make the change with their current majority because Sens. Joe Manchin, I-WV, and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., opposed it.
“Because Senator Sinema essentially opposed changing the filibuster, now, we may have a majority in favor of reforming this set of rules which is obstructive, really an obstacle to progress that the American people want,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in March.
“I hope that we will use this opportunity to take a hard look at the Senate rules,” Sen Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said when Sinema announced her retirement.
President-elect Donald Trump has called for eliminating the filibuster on multiple occasions.
In 2017 he called on McConnell to end it after Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obama care.
The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R's in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT'S TIME!
In 2018 he told them to do it again, because he heard Schumer would do it the next time Democrats won a majority, so he said Republicans might as well do it first. In both instances, McConnell and Republican leaders rejected him.
McConnell also said Wednesday that as long as Republicans have a majority, they won’t allow the District of Columbia to be granted statehood, something that would lead to two new Democratic Senators.
“The filibuster will stand, there won’t be any new states admitted that give a partisan advantage to the other side, and we’ll quit beating up the Supreme Court every time we don’t like a decision they make,” McConnell said.
In 2021, House Democrats used their majority to pass a bill that would make the District of Columbia the 51st state. However, the legislation could not get through the Senate.
Kamala Harris calls for ending filibuster to codify national abortion rights
Vice President Kamala Harris is advocating for the elimination of the U.S. Senate filibuster to codify abortion rights. This represents the most significant step Harris has taken in her pledge to restore federal abortion rights if elected in November.
“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” Harris said in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio on Tuesday, Sept. 24. “To actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom, and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.”
Currently, the filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Harris believes this should be removed so that a simple majority of 51 votes could pass abortion legislation. A simple majority vote is all it takes to eliminate the filibuster.
Some Senate Democrats, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, expressed support for bypassing the filibuster to codify abortion rights. With the election approaching, the majority winner may determine the fate of the filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer believes this issue could incentivize voters to choose Democratic candidates.
“It’s pretty certain that voting rights — if we get our 50 and Kamala’s president, we have the votes to do that,” Schumer said. “We need to make sure people know that when they vote for a Republican candidate, they’re voting for basically a national abortion ban. And when we do it, it has real resonance.”
Recent Democratic efforts to end the filibuster have been hindered by moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin and Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, both of whom are retiring from the Senate at the end of the year.
Former President Donald Trump has stated he wants to keep decisions about abortion at the state level, supporting the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Harris has vowed to restore federal abortion rights if elected, making reproductive rights central to her campaign.
Kari Lake wins GOP primary in Arizona, setting up key race for Senate control
The stage is set for a hotly contested Arizona Senate race as Republicans seek to flip a Senate seat in the once-red state that has become a key battleground. Republican nominee Kari Lake will face off against Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., in an election that could change the dynamic of the Senate, where Democrats currently hold a two-seat majority.
Incumbent Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party and became an independent, announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection, offering the GOP a chance for a major pick-up.
Lake is a former Phoenix TV news anchor who came to prominence while running for Arizona governor in 2022 and promoting former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election denials. Lake herself refused to concede after losing the governor’s race by less than one point.
The Republican field had been crowded, but Lake’s entry into the race, coupled with a ringing endorsement from Trump, made the primary essentially a forgone conclusion. Now, she turns to campaigning state-wide on her MAGA message.
“I think we all share one common hero, and I think I’m safe to say that we think of our favorite President Donald J. Trump as a hero, right?” Lake asked her crowd of supporters during her victory speech Tuesday, July 30.
Ruben Gallego is currently serving in Congress as a representative for Arizona’s 3rd District. The congressman, the son of immigrants and a former Marine who served in Iraq in 2005, ran uncontested.
“I am the proud son of immigrants, and I am running to be the first Latino senator for all of Arizonans,” he said the day of the primary race. “It’s easy to say that Latinos do not get the representation in Washington, D.C.”
Gallego has already dropped about $15 million on ads, showcasing growing up poor and becoming the American dream. According to AdImpact, he’s got $18 million more in ads booked through November. Gallego has called Lake divisive and accused her of wanting to take away women’s rights.
Lake has spent only $2 million, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee is planning another $6 million leading up to the general election. She’s attempting to paint Gallego as a liberal progressive from Chicago and has gone after him on immigration — a top issue for Arizona voters.
There are fewer than 100 days until the general election. Lake will have to bring in more moderates and independent voters to pull off the win. Gallego will have to keep working to get his name out to voters across the state.
Acting Secret Service director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new acting director of the Secret Service is set to answer questions from lawmakers about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. And McDonald’s reports its first sales decline in more than three years. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Secret Service acting director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new head of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, will be on Capitol Hill Tuesday, July 30, testifying over the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, as security questions remain to be answered. It comes one week after the former Director Kimberly Cheatle’s testimony that led her to step down from the position.
According to excerpts of Rowe’s testimony reviewed by news outlets in advance, the new acting director is expected to tell lawmakers what he saw in Butler, Pennsylvania made him “ashamed” and that he “cannot defend why the roof where the gunman opened fire was not secured.”
Tuesday’s hearing comes as newly released police text messages show that officers were aware of the gunman, Thomas Crooks, at least 105 minutes before he opened fire. That’s more than half an hour earlier than previously known.
The local SWAT team also said they never spoke to Secret Service until after the assassination attempt.
Trump will sit down with the FBI on Thursday, Aug. 1, for a victim interview where he will describe what he experienced.
It’s been 17 days since the Republican presidential nominee nearly lost his life at that rally. While Congress will look to learn about security lapses in Tuesday’s testimony, there are long-term efforts to obtain answers, as well, including the newly launched House panel which will also have subpoena power.
Arizona voters head to the polls Tuesday; Tennessee holds primary on Thursday
There are still some high-profile primary races taking place in several states. Voters in Arizona will head to the polls on Tuesday, July 30, and Tennessee will hold its primary on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent earlier in 2024, is not running for re-election, so there are new candidates for that highly sought after open seat.
The top Democratic candidate is Rep. Ruben Gallego. That means his House seat is up for grabs, along with several other House seats.
On the Republican side of the Senate race, it’s former TV anchor Kari Lake leading over her opponent.
In Tennessee, controversial Republican Rep. Andy Ogles facing a challenge and potentially close race when voters head to the polls Thursday. Ogles secured a major endorsement from former President Trump ahead of the primary.
Biden proposes Supreme Court changes, end to presidential immunity
The ethics code proposal comes after a review of the justices’ undisclosed personal and business dealings, namely those of conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. It also comes in the wake of some controversial rulings, like the 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the ruling on presidential immunity.
President Biden is also suggesting a constitutional amendment to change that.
Biden gave his case for reform in a speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas on Monday, July 29.
“The Supreme Court established in Trump v. The United States a dangerous precedent,” Biden said. “They ruled, as you know, as the president of the United States has immunity from — for potential crimes he may have committed while in office. Immunity. This nation was founded on the principle there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law. And for all practical purposes, the court’s decision almost certainly means that a president can violate their oath, flout our laws and face no consequences.”
He added, “This decision is a total affront to the basic expectations we have for those who wield the power of this nation. That they are expected to be wholly accountable under the law.”
The amendment would face a difficult path to become a reality. It would first have to be passed by two-thirds of the House and Senate — which is unlikely, given the Republican majority — then ratified by three-quarters of U.S. states.
Park Fire now 6th largest in California’s history
California’s Park Fire has grown into the sixth largest wildfire in the state’s history. According to Cal Fire, it has now scorched more than 370,000 acres across four counties and is still only 12% contained.
It’s forced thousands to abandon their homes and contributed to poor air quality from coast to coast.
Authorities said the fire started when a man pushed a burning car into a dry ravine. He was officially indicted on arson charges Monday, July 29.
McDonald’s reports first sales slump since 2020
McDonald’s is reconsidering its pricing strategy after the fast-food giant reported its first sales slump since 2020 in the second quarter. Experts said budget-conscious Americans are eating at home more often due to higher prices at fast food chains.
This summer, McDonald’s released a $5 meal promotion to drive more foot traffic, though competitors have also launched similar deals.
The McDonald’s CEO said customers can expect more discounts in an effort to bring more people in and stop the sales decline.
Dragonflies swarm Rhode Island beach like “black cloud”
A swarm of dragonflies overtook a Rhode Island beach on Saturday, July 27, with video being posted online. Local media said the beachgoers reported the insects descending all of a sudden like a “black cloud,” forcing some to pack up and leave.
Experts said this is normal, as dragonflies are starting their annual migration south.
U.S. men’s gymnastics wins first Olympic team medal in 16 years
Olympic officials postponed Tuesday, July 30, morning’s men’s triathlon race after they said the Seine River remains contaminated. They said levels of E. coli are too high for the swimming portion of the competition. The event is now tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 31.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the big story for Team USA was not about gold medals, but bronze. The U.S. men’s gymnastics team earned the first Olympic team medal in the sport for America in 16 years.
Team USA’s Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik and Frederick Richard topped Great Britain for the third spot on the podium. Japan took the gold and China won silver.
The last time the U.S. men’s gymnastics team won a team medal was at the 2008 Beijing games.
Democrats eye another push to eliminate filibuster with Sinema, Manchin gone
Senior Senate Democrats are interested in making another attempt to eliminate or alter the filibuster. This happens as two of their party’s biggest opponents to the change — Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V. — are retiring.
“I hope that we will use this opportunity to take a hard look at the Senate rules,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “A filibuster has dramatically changed the United States Senate for the worse. We’re no longer a deliberative, mandatory body and it’s because of the filibuster. And I miss it. I remember the days when it was a fulsome, bipartisan chamber.”
In addition to a total elimination, there are options to alter the filibuster. The options include requiring a talking filibuster or placing restrictions on the type of legislation it can be used for.
“Because Senator Sinema essentially opposed changing the filibuster, now, we may have a majority in favor of reforming this set of rules which is obstructive, really an obstacle to progress that the American people want,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “The majority should rule in the United States Senate. The minority shouldn’t be able to block us.”
Republicans are unified in their stance that the 60-vote threshold must remain. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that it has served the Senate well.
“I’ve been for preserving it when it was not to my advantage,” Graham said. “If you want the Senate to become the House it would be a bad, bad decision.”
The last attempt to end the filibuster was in January 2022, when Democrats were trying to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The legislation did not have sufficient support due to Republican opposition. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to move the act forward by making a point of order, which required a simple majority vote of approval. It failed 52-48 because Manchin, Sinema and every Republican voted against it.
Schumer referred to the voting rights bill when asked if he would make another attempt at ending the filibuster once Sinema and Manchin leave.
“When people attempt to — courts or legislators — take away voting rights, particularly of the most disenfranchised people, we have an obligation to do everything we can to restore those voting rights,” Schumer said.
If Democrats are going to make any changes, they will need to maintain their majority. Since Sinema and Manchin are retiring, that has become more difficult.
Sinema exit will make it even harder for Democrats to hold Senate majority
Key retirements could make it more difficult for the Democratic Party to maintain its Senate majority after the 2024 election. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., who caucuses with Democrats, announced she won’t seek reelection in November. The race for her seat is one of four elections where the incumbent is stepping down in a state where Republicans have a legitimate chance to flip.
Democrats currently have a 51-49 majority in the chamber. If they lose one seat, the majority will be decided by the vice president. If they lose two seats, Republicans take the majority.
“We can’t take it for granted,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “We have to work hard in all those states and others. But I think the Republicans would be naive to take it for granted as well. I think the voters are taking a look at these candidates and I think we’ll have quality people that we’ll field.”
“Good candidates, good campaigns and a good strong pull at the top of the ticket. But I’m optimistic,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said of Republican’s potential path to victory. “I think we’ll take back the Senate.”
The Arizona race appears to be between Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake who lost in 2022. Polls show Lake is leading Gallego by three to four points.
In West Virginia, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring and Republican Gov. Jim Justice is running to replace him. Polls show Justice is more than 30 points ahead of his next opponent and has a favorability rating of 73%.
In Michigan, Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow is retiring. The race to replace her is pretty full. There are three Democrats and 10 Republicans in the primary that takes place in April. There are already two independents in November’s general election.
The big surprise challenge is in Maryland, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one. Sen. Ben Cardin, D, is retiring and a win would normally be a layup for Democrats. Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan — who served two terms and left office with 77% approval rating — jumped in the race.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said he’s confident the eventual Democratic nominee for the seat will prevail in Maryland.
“I don’t discount the fact that it will be a competitive race,” Van Hollen said. “It will be a very expensive race with the former governor in. But Marylanders will understand very clearly that a vote for Larry Hogan is a vote to put the MAGA right-wing Republicans into control in the United States Senate.”
There are two more close races for Democrats in which the incumbent is running for reelection.
“It’ll be a close, tough race,” Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, D, told NBC News.
In Montana, Sen. Jon Tester, D, is just two points ahead of his Republican challenger, veteran businessman Tim Sheehy.
Border security bill dead in Senate, Israel aid doomed in House
The bipartisan border security bill that the Senate spent three months negotiating is dead two days after it was publicly released. House Republican leadership immediately said they won’t bring it up for a vote and a growing number of Senate Republicans won’t support it.
Now, Senate GOP leadership indicated a vote on the bill will fail.
“We have no real chance here to make a law,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday, Feb. 6.
“People have not had enough time to read the bill. It is inadequate. So I agree with our whip, I don’t think this will pass and I think we need to move on,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., said.
One of the biggest supporters of negotiating the border security and foreign aid provisions together, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., came out against the bill, serving as one of the final nails in the coffin.
“After reviewing the bill text, there are provisions that are highly problematic, especially considering the fact that President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas caused this border crisis and have refused to use existing laws already on the books to address it,” Tillis said in statement announcing his decision. “It is hard to trust that the Biden Administration would even implement this bill in good faith.”
Democrats blame the bill’s impending failure on former President Donald Trump.
“Republicans have definitively sided with Donald Trump,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. “They’ve decided they want to keep chaos at the border because it is a political winner for them.”
“Even though it helps the country he’s not for it,” President Joe Biden said of Trump. “He’d rather weaponize this issue than actually solve it.”
Democrats said they’re angry with Republicans for making demands regarding border security provisions, then backing out.
“Republicans need to get their balls out of Trump’s desk and vote for this s–t you’ve been asking for for months,” Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said.
The bill would have overhauled the country’s asylum laws, provided $650 million to build more border wall and required the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deport anyone who tries to cross the border if the weekly average crossings hit 5,000 per day. The package would have also given billions to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
It was negotiated by Sens. Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and James Lankford, R-Okla., who believed there could still be a chance for the bill to move forward.
“Let’s talk about the amendments, what needs to be done at the end of the day, the worst case scenario is to do nothing,” Lankford told reporters.
Nothing is going to happen for now. House Republicans introduced a standalone bill to provide $17.6 billion to Israel but it needed a two-thirds vote for approval.
House Democratic leaders announced they would vote “no” earlier in the day. They called it a “nakedly obvious and cynical attempt by MAGA extremists to undermine the possibility of a comprehensive, bipartisan funding package.”
While a comprehensive immigration and foreign aid package is dead for now, there may still be an effort to pass the foreign aid separately.
Border Patrol union endorses Senate immigration deal
The National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents agents around the country, has come out in support of the newly released bipartisan Senate border deal. Council President Brandon Judd said it will give agents new authorities that they have not had in the past, giving undecided lawmakers a key nod of approval.
“This will allow us to remove single adults expeditiously and without a lengthy judicial review which historically has required the release of these individuals into the interior of the United States.” Judd said in a statement. “This alone will drop illegal border crossings nationwide and will allow our agents to get back to detecting and apprehending those who want to cross our borders illegally and evade apprehension. While not perfect, the Border Act of 2024 is a step in the right direction and is far better than the current status quo. This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage.”
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., said she was proud to have the endorsement. Sinema, along with Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., were the principal negotiators of the bill.
“There is a crisis at our border, and our bipartisan border security package fixes it,” Sinema said. “Now, senators must make a decision: pass our package and solve the crisis or accept the status quo, do nothing, and keep playing politics while our system breaks and our communities continue to suffer.”
The new Senate border deal is a 280-page makeover of the country’s asylum, work authorization, and immigration adjudication system.
The bill has the support of the president, Senate leaders from both parties and House Democratic leadership. However, it appears to be doomed to fail because House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called it “dead on arrival” in his chamber, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who is in charge of scheduling votes, said it will not receive one.
The bill raises the credible fear standard for asylum-seekers and allows those who pass that new, higher bar to receive a work permit.
The bill requires those cases to be fully decided within 6 months. Currently, it takes years for those cases to be decided.
It also takes into consideration whether the applicant could have moved within their own country to find safety or moved somewhere other than the United States.
New Border Emergency Authority
The bill creates a Border Emergency Authority that requires DHS to shut down the border and immediately deport all new arrivals if Border Patrol encounters reach a one-week average of 5,000 per day.
Below that threshold, single adults would be detained, while families would be released.
General border security provisions
The bill provides $650 million to build and reinforce miles of new border wall.
It ends the Biden administration’s use of the CBPOne app to facilitate parole and work authorizations.
Foreign aid
The bill would provide:
$60.6 billion for Ukraine.
$4.8 billion in military support for the Indo-Pacific region.
Senators on both sides criticize border deal; House GOP says it’s DOA
The new Senate border deal is a 280-page makeover of the country’s asylum, work authorization, and immigration adjudication system. It has the support of President Biden, Senate leaders from both parties and House Democratic leadership. However, the bill appears to be doomed to fail after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called it “dead on arrival” in his chamber, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who is in charge of scheduling votes, said it will not receive one.
“The border security bill will put a huge number of new enforcement tools in the hands of a future administration and push the current administration to finally stop the illegal flow,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a statement.
Lankford was the principal Republican negotiator along with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
“We’re creating bold new tools to get control of the border for the first time in a long time.,” Murphy said. “But our bill does not deviate from our nation’s core values.”
Here’s just a small glimpse of what’s in it:
On asylum
The bill raises the credible fear standard for asylum-seekers and allows those who pass that new, higher bar to receive a work permit.
The bill requires those cases to be fully decided within 6 months. Currently, it takes years for those cases to be decided.
It also takes into consideration whether the applicant could have moved within their own country to find safety or moved somewhere other than the United States.
New Border Emergency Authority
The bill creates a Border Emergency Authority that requires DHS to shut down the border and immediately deport all new arrivals if Border Patrol encounters reach a one-week average of 5,000 per day.
Below that threshold, single adults would be detained, while families would be released.
General border security provisions
The bill provides $650 million to build and reinforce miles of new border wall.
It ends the Biden administration’s use of the CBPOne app to facilitate parole and work authorizations.
Foreign aid
The bill would provide:
$60.6 billion for Ukraine.
$4.8 billion in military support for the Indo-Pacific region.
In the Senate, progressives like Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., oppose the bill. Meanwhile, conservatives, including Mike Lee, R-Utah, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., are a “no,” raising questions as to whether it will receive support from half of Senate Republicans.
Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he’s hopeful it’ll pass his chamber and had a message for Speaker Johnson.
“You know we need to fix our border, you know it has to be bipartisan. The bill that you passed didn’t get a single Democratic vote in the House or Senate, how are you going to get anything done?” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
"The [hard-right extremists] are running your show… Do the right thing. You know what the right thing to do is… You say the border is in chaos, do something about it, don't just politically posture."
Johnson, meanwhile, is bringing forward a $14.3 billion dollar supplemental package for Israel during the week of Feb. 4.
The top Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y., said Johnson’s proposal provides critical aid to Israel but “irresponsibly fails to address the other national security issue.”
“There is reason to believe that this eleventh-hour standalone bill is a cynical attempt to undermine the Senate’s bipartisan effort,” Jeffries wrote to his fellow House Democrats.
Despite that, Jeffries said House Democrats will consider supporting the measure.
Lankford says this is what’s really in the immigration, foreign aid package
The text of the bill to provide foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and increase U.S. border security could be released at any moment. Between former President Donald Trump’s opposition and what negotiators call “rumors,” what once looked like a promising bipartisan victory now may not even get approved in one piece — if at all.
“Everyone’s going off of internet rumors,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said. “And there’s lots of things that are out there, they’re just patently false.”
Lankford, along with Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy, Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, Ariz., are the lead negotiators. They’ve been working since October to make a deal.
Lankford said the single biggest piece of misinformation is that the bill would allow 5,000 people a day to enter the U.S., at which point the border would be shut down.
“I would never agree to that,” Lankford told reporters. “It’s not 5,000 in. It’s everyone who doesn’t qualify out.”
Here’s what Lankford said is really in the bill:
Enhanced asylum screenings.
Increased migrant detention capacity.
Increased deportation flights.
An end to “catch and release.”
A daily cap on immigration to prevent the Border Patrol from becoming overwhelmed.
“When we get overrun, it stops all traffic and pushes it back to Mexico and says, ‘We’re not releasing you into the country, we’re turning you around until we can actually process people,’” Lankford said. “That is being completely mischaracterized.”
Although Republican support in the Senate has diminished, unanimity or near unanimity from Democrats along with about 25 Republican votes is still enough to get it approved.
“I think it’s going to be approved on the Senate side. I think the House, it’s a little more of a question mark,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said based on what he’s heard so far, it’s a “non-starter” in the House.
“I hope some of this is not true. But from what we’ve seen clearly, what’s been suggested is in this bill is not enough to secure the border,” Johnson said.
There are two issues that both get worse with time. One, lawmakers lose the political will to pass the bill in a presidential election year, and two, the need to send additional aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan increases, which may require lawmakers to act on that separately.
“The more you change the bill, the more partisan it becomes,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla said. “And at some point, instead of being bipartisan, it becomes partisan. And at some point, we have to make the decision to how much more can we give before we walk away. And I think we’re there.”
In addition to the border security provisions that House Republicans contend are too lax, some in the caucus are also opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine. However, there is still a majority in the House who support foreign aid.