Senate Republicans criticize establishment GOP for hasty and secretive border talks with Democrats
Establishment Republicans led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have been collaborating with Democrats to push legislation funding the proxy war in Ukraine across the finish line. However, at least 15 of their fellow Republicans are calling foul on their ploy, which pretends to care about voters’ outrage about the border while further financing the war in Eastern Europe.
Senator Ron Johnson and 14 of his colleagues in the Senate have written a letter to Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso, urging him to hold a meeting that would involve the entire conference in discussions about border security legislation.
The meeting would also provide Republicans with an opportunity to once again voice their concerns about approving $106 billion to foreign countries, giving President Joe Biden a free pass on the border crisis, and allowing McConnell to exploit the holiday schedule pressures to advance his political agenda.
“Rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats who want an open border and who caused the current crisis will not secure the border,” the Republicans wrote. “The American public deserves an open and transparent process which cannot occur until the House returns the week of January 8, 2024.”
“Rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats who want an open border and who caused the current crisis will not secure the border.” — @SenRonJohnson and 14 other GOP Senators to McConnell team leading negotiations. pic.twitter.com/7ucAsBz4AU
The Republicans emphasized that delaying a conference meeting until “the week of January 8th” would give them enough time to develop a solution that doesn’t sacrifice the interests of frustrated Americans who believe Congress is spending too much on Ukraine while domestic crises, including the one at our Southern border, continue to worsen.
On Sunday, the same day Johnson sent his letter, McConnell and Lankford expressed doubt that they would be able to finalize the border deal before the Senate holiday recess. They stressed that ”while progress is being made,” negotiations take time to ensure accuracy.
“Conducting rushed and secret backroom negotiations is not the way to address the unprecedented border crisis. That’s the kind of business as usual process that Washington leadership has relied upon to mortgage our children’s future and weaken our country,” Johnson said in a statement. “Whatever negotiators produce will need to be fully vetted, discussed, and understood — by members and the general public. That will take weeks — not hours or days. I look forward to our conference meeting the week of January 8th, where we can begin that vetting and discussion.”
So far, Senate negotiations about the plan have been limited to McConnell and his allies like Senator James Lankford, who met with independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Democrat Senator Chris Murphy over the weekend, excluding other members of the Senate GOP.
Only recently has GOP leadership in the Senate become “unusually vocal” about the record-breaking number of border crossers illegally entering the country.
Their sudden interest in addressing a crisis created by Democrats coincided with Biden’s indication that he would sign border security legislation as long as it included his proposed funding for Ukraine. The push also comes just months before several Senate Republicans face primaries in the 2024 election.
Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and co-producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @jordanboydtx.
How does the funding of the proxy war in Ukraine affect the resources and attention given to addressing the border crisis?
Is known for and that has caused the American people to lose faith in their government,” Johnson said. “We need a transparent and open process that allows for meaningful debate and discussion, not a rushed deal that ignores the concerns of the American people.”
The border crisis has been a major issue of concern for Republicans, with many calling for increased border security measures and stricter immigration policies. They argue that funding the proxy war in Ukraine takes away resources and attention from addressing the urgent situation at the southern border.
The tension within the Republican party over these issues highlights the internal divisions and differing priorities among its members. While some are focused on national security and international relations, others prioritize domestic concerns and the needs of American citizens.
The letter from Johnson and his colleagues is a clear statement of disagreement and opposition to the current approach taken by McConnell and other establishment Republicans. They are demanding a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process that takes into account the concerns of all Republican senators.
It remains to be seen how this internal conflict will be resolved and what impact it will have on the funding for the proxy war in Ukraine and border security legislation. However, it is clear that tensions within the Republican party are escalating and that a unified strategy will be crucial for achieving their policy goals.
The outcome of this debate will not only impact current legislation but could also have broader implications for the future direction of the Republican party. As the party grapples with divisions and competing priorities, it will need to find common ground and a coherent strategy to effectively address the challenges facing the country.
