McConnell has played both sides of the aisle in the past. But now there’s not question where he stands.
Because his latest betrayal has Democrats scratching their heads.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is reportedly lobbying Republicans to vote against a border bill introduced in the Democratic-controlled chamber on Monday.
House critics of the plan have cautioned that the $118 billion package is aimed at getting President Joe Biden re-elected in a potential 2020 rematch with former President Donald Trump, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that the bill “legalizes illegal immigration.”
BREAKING: Ron DeSantis reacts to Senate border deal
"You only shut the border down once 5,000 people a day come in illegally? […] That's basically legalizing illegal immigration."
"[This] shows me the contempt these people in D.C. have for American taxpayers." pic.twitter.com/uwluBjXsCU
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) February 5, 2024
Numerous Republican senators have already expressed strong opposition to the package, prompting McConnell to encourage the remaining Republican senators to stop it.
“McConnell recommended to GOP senators behind closed doors that they BLOCK the border bill on Wednesday, per multiple sources, bc it’s clear that most Republicans are preparing to vote no — either because they oppose the bill or want more time,” reporter Andrew Desiderio wrote on X.
NEWS — McConnell recommended to GOP senators behind closed doors that they BLOCK the border bill on Wednesday, per multiple sources, bc it’s clear that most Republicans are preparing to vote no — either because they oppose the bill or want more time. w/ @bresreports @JakeSherman
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) February 6, 2024
“McConnell explicitly recommended a NO vote on cloture on the motion to proceed, according to several attendees,” he continued.
“McConnell said the problem isn’t what Lankford negotiated, it’s that the political mood in the country has changed.”
Shortly after the bill was announced, top House Republicans indicated that it would fail to pass the lower house.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) all issued a unified statement opposing the bill.
“House Republicans oppose the Senate immigration bill because it fails in every policy area needed to secure our border and would actually incentivize more illegal immigration,” the statement said.
“Among its many flaws, the bill expands work authorizations for illegal aliens while failing to include critical asylum reforms. Even worse, its language allowing illegals to be ‘released from physical custody’ would effectively endorse the Biden ‘catch and release’ policy.”
“The so-called ‘shutdown’ authority in the bill is anything but, riddled with loopholes that grant far too much discretionary authority to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – who has proven he will exploit every measure possible, in defiance of the law, to keep the border open,” the statement continued.
“The bill also fails to adequately stop the President’s abuse of parole authority and provides for taxpayer funds to fly and house illegal immigrants in hotels through the FEMA Shelter and Services Program.”
“America’s sovereignty is at stake,” the statement concluded.
“Any consideration of this Senate bill in its current form is a waste of time. It is DEAD on arrival in the House. We encourage the U.S. Senate to reject it.”
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
