The much-touted bipartisan bill on foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel tied to spending on the US southern border has hit a wall in the Senate. In a 49-50 vote, the upper chamber rejected the proposal that has been the centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s response to increased military tensions around the world and growing domestic angst over the failure to control America’s border.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Y) changed his vote at the last moment in order to be able to bring the bill back in the future if he feels it has a stronger chance of passing. But this was not just a GOP rejection.
Democrat Sens. Ed Markey (MA), Bob Menendez (NJ), Alex Padilla (CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with Bernie Sanders (I-VT), voted no. As for the Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), James Lankford (OK), and Mitt Romney (UT) joined the Democratic voting bloc.
