As expected, the Senate failed to pass the border bill when Democratic Leader Schumer brought it up today. Just four Republicans voted in favor: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Mitt Romney (UT), and James Lankford (OK). Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting no: Alex Padilla (CA), Bob Menendez (NJ), and Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both of Massachusetts. Later today, Schumer will offer a stand-alone foreign aid bill for Israel and Ukraine, another issue that splits Republicans. This is far from over. The Democrats could try for border legislation again. Biden could attempt to use executive powers to bring more order to the migrant pileup. In normal times, courts would block that kind of move, but right-wing judges might uphold it, paradoxically helping Biden. On the border issue, everything is now topsy-turvy. Democrats are now for a tough policy they didn’t really want. Republicans blocked a measure they imposed on Democrats. They look like toadies to
Trump, which helps with their hardcore base but not with voters generally, especially on this issue. If the crisis persists, my bet is that it hurts the Republicans more than it hurts Biden and eventually Congress will be compelled to act.
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