Senate approves budget plan to fund immigration enforcement, bowling over Democrat blockade
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Senate voted 50-48 early Thursday to approve a budget plan to fund immigration enforcement agencies, the first in a multistep plan to bowl over a Democrat blockade that has kept much of the Homeland Security Department shuttered for weeks.
The bill will fund Homeland's immigration enforcement for the remainder of Trump's presidency, taking the issue off the table for Democrats.
The House must first approve the blueprint before the final funding bill for all of Homeland Security can be considered in a process known as budget reconciliation that allows passage of the legislation without any Democrat support.
President Donald Trump has temporarily arranged for key Homeland employees to be paid but set a June 1 deadline for Congress to solve the Democrat blockade.
"Today's Democrats are a rogue and radical party," Senate Majority Whip John Barasso, R-Wyo., said, addressing Homeland Security workers. "You deserve better than reckless Democrat hostage-taking. You deserve the tools and support from Congress necessary to carry out the mission Congress has given you. Our country depends on you."
Democrats used the budget maneuver to introduce several amendments on affordability issues, forcing senators on the right to vote no repeatedly.
"Republicans want to shell out billions of dollars to Donald Trump's private army without any common-sense restraints or reforms. Democrats want to put money in people's pockets by lowering their costs," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in explaining Democrats' tactics.
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Chalk up one for John Thune.
Many thanks to the last of the investigative reporters.
Multi-year funding? Trump Republicans appear to be preparing for a long, cold winter. Otherwise they'd want to highlight ICE every budget cycle to score political points.
Sounds to me like they are planning on the possibility of losing their House majority..
Sad Democrats are so passionate about protecting foreign criminals that this has to be done.