2023-12-07 02:38:15
Republican senators on Wednesday (12/06/2023) blocked a White House request for $106 billion in aid for Ukraine e Israelbecause the Democrats refuse to include the reforms that the former demand to stop the entry of migrants to USA.
This rejection deals a blow to Democratic President Joe Biden, who warned Congress that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will not limit himself to a victory in Ukraine if he wins the war, but could even attack a NATO country.
The package would include at least $60 billion to help Ukraine keep pressure on Russia during the frigid winter months, and about $10 billion for Israel in its conflict with Hamas militants, plus some aid for Taiwan.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had pledged to hold a vote later on adding the border security measures demanded by Republicans, in an attempt to get the 60 votes needed to clear the first procedural hurdle.
But the 49 members of the Republican minority in the Upper House voted en masse against moving forward, pointing to the government’s lack of action on the estimated 10,000 migrants who cross from Mexico daily.
“Southern border out of control”
“Everyone has been very, very clear on this to say that we stand firm. Now is the time,” Senator James Lankford, a top Republican negotiator on immigration and borders, told Fox Business before the vote.
“We are completely out of control at the southern border, and it is time to resolve this.”
Biden has led the global coalition backing Kiev, but support has been waning among congressional Republicans, and the administration has warned that it will run out of money for more aid to Ukraine within weeks unless lawmakers act.
The president has come under pressure from Democrats to reject sweeping conservative demands on immigration – which they say amounts to closing the border – but in an impassioned televised speech he promised he would accept a “meaningful compromise.”
gs (afp, Archyde.com)
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