After months of negotiations between Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Democrats, Senate Republicans refused to support a bipartisan border security deal, scuttling a larger emergency aid package.
The Hill reports:
Senate Republicans voted Wednesday against advancing a bipartisan border security deal that was part of a larger emergency foreign aid package to fund the war in Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific security.
A motion to proceed to the package failed by a vote of 49-50, with most of the Senate GOP conference voting against it. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), James Lankford (Okla.) and Mitt Romney (Utah) voted to advance the measure.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voted no, citing opposition to $10 billion in military aid to Israel given the deaths of more than 27,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Democratic Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Bob Menendez (N.J.), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also voted no.
Schumer said earlier Wednesday that he intends to move on to a Plan B after the failed vote and put a package on the floor that contains aid for Ukraine, Israel and other foreign policy priorities — but doesn’t include the border deal. He voted “no” on technical grounds that it will allow him to offer the motion to reconsider.
The bill needed 60 votes to pass the Senate.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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