Senate Republicans muscled through a budget resolution early Thursday morning that sets the stage for $70 billion in spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations, bypassing Democratic opposition in the process. The vote broke 50-48, with GOP senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky joining Democrats in opposition.
The measure itself carries no direct legal power, but it opens the door for Senate committees to draft legislation authorizing the border enforcement funding while sidestepping the 60-vote threshold normally required to overcome a filibuster. The move clears a potential path for House Republicans to act on a separate, bipartisan Senate-approved bill to fund the rest of the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shuttered for months.
Republicans sidestepped months of failed bipartisan negotiations by turning to what is known as a "budget reconciliation" process. Democrats had sought policy limits on immigration enforcement operations following the deaths of two Minneapolis residents at the hands of federal immigration agents. Those demands included mandatory body cameras for agents and restrictions on enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. The reconciliation approach allows Republicans to move forward without any such constraints.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said the move would ensure border security while preventing Democrats from defunding the agencies. "We have a multi-step process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America's borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies," he stated.
Democrats condemned the strategy as a circumvention of normal appropriations procedures designed to shield what they called "rogue" agents from accountability. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York used floor time to hammer Republicans over their spending priorities. "America, this is what the Republicans are fighting for: To maintain two unchecked rogue agencies that are dreaded in all corners of the country instead of reducing your health care costs, your housing costs, your grocery costs, your gas costs," Schumer said.
The marathon session included an extended amendment voting period known as "vote-a-rama," where lawmakers can propose unlimited amendments. Democrats exploited the opportunity to force vulnerable Republicans into politically difficult votes.
In one telling moment, an amendment by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska that would have created a point of order against reconciliation bills failing to lower out-of-pocket health care costs drew their own support, despite ultimately failing 48-50. Both senators face highly competitive re-election races. A separate amendment on insurance company practices in patient care by Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia tied 49-49 and also won backing from Collins and Sullivan, along with Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Republicans hold 53 Senate seats and will need to retain 50 members to pass the eventual spending bill that emerges from this process, giving Democrats minimal leverage over the final outcome.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Republicans found their workaround to a stalled process, but those defections on health care amendments suggest the political price tag isn't fully paid yet."
Comments