Omnibus Stalls as Title 42 Amendment Causes Major Problems, Senators Begin Discussing Short-Term Funding Bill
The Senate has halted negotiations on the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending Package. Sen. Mike Lee’s Title 42 Amendment (R-UT), which was introduced by Senator Mike Lee, has thrown a wrench into the process. This has led some senators to discuss a shorter-term funding bill.
Title 42, an immigration policy, makes it easier for federal officials to send border crossing agents back to their home countries. The program was first implemented by President Donald Trump during the outbreak of the pandemic. A federal judge ordered President Joe Biden’s administration last December to end the program.
Following an emergency application by a coalition from 19 Republican-led States, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Judge John Roberts recently halted the lower court’s order ending Title 42. This left the fate of the program in the hands of the federal judiciary.
Politico reported that Sen. Lee’s Title 42 Amendment ties funding for the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Executive Secretary to the Biden government, while keeping Title 42 in effect.
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Despite the hopes of Chuck Schumer, Democrat Senate Leader, to bring a vote on Wednesday before the Senate Floor on the Omnibus Bill, Lee’s Title 42 Amendment is “causing big problems” at the Senate, reported Trish Turner, ABC News.
“Omnibus strikes turbulence over a GOP Title 42 Amendment that could pass in the Senate and sink the legislation at the House,” tweeted Sahil Kapur, NBC reporter. “Votes delayed, not happening tonight like expected hours ago.”
Senate Democrats would like to vote on Lee’s Title 42 Amendment in order to reach the 60 votes threshold so that it can be included within the Omnibus Spending Package. Senate Republicans, however, want the vote to pass by a simple 51 majority vote.
Lee’s Amendment could be included in the bill with the support of several Senate Democrats for Title 42 at the lower threshold.
According to one Senate Democrat aide, Lee’s amendment was a “poison pills” that would “kill bill in the House” if it were adopted.
Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-States of South Carolina) criticized his Democrat colleagues because they failed to vote for Lee’s amendment.
Graham tweeted, “It is absurd that Senate Democrats refuse to allow a vote to @SenMikeLee amend to extend Title 42 expulsion authority.” “The Lee Amendment is relevant to the underlying legislation, and represents good US policy.”
Graham said that “if this bill fails because Senator Lee wasn’t allowed to vote on extending Title 42,” Graham agreed.
Schumer stated that if there was no agreement, he would file Cloture on the Omnibus Spending Package. This would allow for a vote to be held Friday, December 23rd, pushing the government funding process forward into next week.
But, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), has insisted that negotiations reach a deal prior to Thursday, December 22. He intends “to go home on the road” on December 23.
McConnell reminded reporters Wednesday about December 22 deadline. Turner asked Turner if McConnell still had a deadline. McConnell replied, “That’s tomorrow.”
According to Alex Bolton, Hill reporter, there has been “growing talk” about the possibility that a short-term continuing resolution funding bill could be passed to fund the government until February.
Republicans would be able to win the funding negotiations by passing a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government through February. They will have control of the House majority when the next Congress begins in January.
Kevin McCarthy, the House GOP Leader (R-CA), was strongly opposed to the lame duck Congress passing a long term spending package.
If Congress does not act on the spending bill before Friday, the government will be out of money and shut down.
