Senate GOP blocks bipartisan border bill and Ukraine aid package

Democrats were raging mad after a bipartisan border bill that had Ukraine aid attached to it was blocked by Republicans this week.

According to the Associated Press, pro-Ukraine aid Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), scrambled to find support to pass a Ukraine aid package on its own.

The outlet blamed it on a "deeply divided" Republican conference, taking aim at McConnell for "losing control" over the Republican conference.

The outlet noted:

It was the latest sign of the longtime Republican leader’s slipping control over his conference and underscored how the traditional GOP tenet of robust foreign involvement is giving way to Donald Trump’s “America First” nationalism. At stake is the future of Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

After the failed attempt, the situation on the Republican side turned into an "hours-long stall," which prompted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to call it a night, saying he wanted to "give our Republican colleagues the night to figure themselves out."

Schumer just admitted that he threw in border provisions into the Ukraine bill because Republicans demanded it. But instead of working on a stand alone deal that could actually secure the border, their first pivot is to do a Ukraine stand alone vote—which has been their goal all… pic.twitter.com/1TL6u53iq9

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 7, 2024

GOP senators agreed to meet Thursday morning to determine if there would be a path to passing a standalone aid package.

What the Associated Press failed to point out is that a large number of Republican senators are clearly listening to their constituencies on the issue, as most Republican voters are not fans of the United States sending hundreds of billions in "wartime" aid to Ukraine at this point.

The AP noted that "some" Republican senators are hesitant, but made sure to point out Schumer's warning about the GOP senators who won't give in.

Some GOP senators have grown skeptical of sending money to Ukraine in its war with Russia, but Schumer warned earlier Wednesday that “history will cast a permanent and shameful shadow” on those who attempt to block it.

Schumer added, "Will the Senate stand up to brutish thugs like Vladimir Putin and reassure our friends abroad that America will never abandon them in the hour of need?"

The Senate Democrat leader's words prompted responses from the Republican side of the aisle and from social media users.

"This is a crazy idea, I know, but I think American tax dollars should be spent on AMERICA," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "The US Congress is the most hated institution in the US. They work for their donors, not the American people! Schumer can pound sand!"

Only time will tell if Senate Republicans stand their ground and put America first. Let's hope that's the case.