Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana appeared on Fox News with Martha MacCallum to clarify the Republican Party’s decision to block a bipartisan border security bill. In the interview, Kennedy explained that to Republicans, the bill was not considered a “deal.”
On Sunday, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray released the text of a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel after weeks of negotiations between Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, and Kyrsten Sinema. However, the bill was ultimately blocked in a 50-49 vote on Wednesday.
MacCallum asked Kennedy about allegations that Republicans had gone back on a previous agreement. Kennedy responded, “There was no deal to go back on. As part of this supplemental bill, we asked for some border provisions to be explored to slow down President Biden’s open border policy. Senator McConnell appointed James Lankford to handle the negotiations with Democrats, who support an open border. Lankford did his best, but ultimately, the Republicans in the Senate did not feel the bill was sufficient.”
When MacCallum pressed Kennedy further, asking if there were any provisions that Republicans could have moved on, Kennedy remained firm in his stance, saying, “I don’t see how anyone can confidently say this bill would have been an improvement.”
Kennedy also took some time to criticize President Joe Biden, stating, “I don’t think he cares. When someone doesn’t act like they care, sometimes it’s not an act.” This statement highlights the Republican Party’s frustration with Biden’s handling of the border crisis and his lack of action to address it.
One of the main points of contention in the bipartisan bill was the allocation of funds. The bill would have provided $60 billion for aid to Ukraine, while only allocating $20 billion for border security. Additionally, the bill included $1.4 billion for non-governmental organizations aiding illegal immigrants.
These numbers come at a time when the border crisis has reached unprecedented levels. According to the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there have been over 6.4 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border since the start of fiscal year 2021. This serves as a major issue for Republicans who are advocating for stricter border control policies.
Kennedy’s final statement, “When somebody doesn’t act like they care, sometimes it’s not an act,” speaks to the lack of urgency and action from the Biden administration on the border crisis. The Republican Party’s decision to block the bipartisan border security bill shows their determination to find a more effective solution to the ongoing crisis.
With the number of illegal border crossings continuing to rise, it is crucial for both parties to work together and find a solution that addresses the main concerns of both parties. Until then, it seems unlikely that a truly bipartisan deal will be reached.