Apparently $6 trillion wasn’t enough money to deal with the Covid pandemic.
Democrats are asking for another $10 billion.
However, Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked the Democrats’ $10 billion Covid bill, demanding the measure include an amendment that would keep the Trump-era Title 42 asylum policy in place.
“There’ll have to be an amendment on Title 42 to move the bill,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters. We’ll need to enter into some kind of agreement to process these amendments in order to go forward with the bill.”
WATCH:
Joe Biden announced he would be ending a Trump-era order blocking asylum seekers at the US border on May 23.
Title 42 was used by President Trump in 2020 to expel migrants seeking asylum during the Covid pandemic.
Republicans are using Title 42 as leverage to block the new Covid bill.
The Senate on Tuesday failed to reach the 60 votes needed and voted 47-52 to advance the $10 billion Covid bill.
The New York Post reported:
Senate Republicans blocked Democrats’ latest attempt to move forward with $10 billion in new COVID-19-related spending Tuesday, insisting on the inclusion of an amendment that would keep the Title 42 health policy in place at the southern border.
All 50 Republicans voted against moving forward with the bill, along with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) switched his vote to “no” at the last minute in order to bring the measure to the floor again. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) did not submit a vote.
Democrats will need 60 votes in order to move the package for debate and an eventual vote. The Biden administration and Democratic leadership are looking to approve the legislation before Congress breaks for its two-week recess on Friday.