Senate Democrats Prepare for Decreased Support from Their Own Party on Border Issues

Senate Democrats are facing challenges within their own party regarding the bipartisan border bill that is set to be brought to the floor this week, as reported by Politico on Tuesday.

Previously, in February, the bill was focused on border security and tied to foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel, but now it stands alone as a border bill that Republicans argue does not provide adequate security.

Senator Chris Murphy, a key figure in crafting the bill, anticipates less support from Democrats this time around. The bill failed to advance in February with a close vote of 50-49, and the outcome is expected to be worse this week.

“I suspect there are a couple Democrats who voted yes on that bill because of the Ukraine money,” Murphy told Politico. “My guess is there will be more Democrats voting against it.”

Son. James Lankford, a Republican, has indicated he will vote against the bill, and there is a possibility that no GOP members will support it this week, according to Politico.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, who previously voted for the bill in February, now describes it as “dumb.”

“The other side is now going to use it in a way to perhaps make some of their troubled incumbents in a better place,” Murkowski told Politico. “But they don’t really think that they can pass it. So it’s just messaging on their side.”

Similarly, Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, both Republicans who supported the bill three months ago, now have doubts about its authenticity, with Collins questioning if it is genuine and Romney calling it a ploy, as reported by Politico.

In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Senate Minority Whip John Thune emphasized that Democrats are more concerned about their political vulnerability than national security, recognizing that an open border chaos is a political liability.

Even if the bill were to pass the Senate, House Republicans have already declared it “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber.