The Ron Johnson-led GOP effort opposing a new pro-asylum rule by the Biden administration failed in a 48-46 vote on Thursday. Six senators didn’t vote, including Jeff Merkley, who has COVID-19.
Roll Call reports that Mitch McConnell voted against the measure, not because he’s pro-immigrant (he’s not), but purely on procedural grounds. Meanwhile, Joe Manchin was the lone Democrat to vote with Republicans. Disgusting, but not surprising, considering he’s been firmly in favor of keeping Stephen Miller’s anti-asylum Title 42 policy in place indefinitely.
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The GOP-led resolution had expressed disapproval at a new Biden administration rule intended to “reduce the immigration court backlog and promote a more efficient asylum system,” immigrant rights advocacy group America’s Voice said.
But rather than addressing the horrific mass killings in Buffalo, and now Uvalde, Senate Republicans chose to use their remaining time in session before their vacation (because they work just so darn hard) to bash immigrants. In fact, they wanted this diversion so badly that the vote was “a rare stand-alone vote on an immigration issue,” Roll Call said. Recall that the House under Democratic leadership has passed pro-immigrant bills addressing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and farmworkers numerous times, both in this current session and the previous one, only for them to stall in the Senate.
Roll Call reports that Johnson “had appeared cautiously optimistic in the hours leading up to the vote,” saying that he felt it could pass. “I hope there’s some rational Democrats who say that we really shouldn’t have open borders,” he falsely said. But in the end he got only Manchin. The four other Democrats who have shamefully supported an effort to keep Miller’s Title 42 policy in place—Kyrsten Sinema, Mark Kelly, Maggie Hassan, and Jon Tester—all voted against the measure. To that, I say, good. That’s a step.
Johnson was eager to hold this gross vote against asylum-seekers who pose no threat to anyone as he rushed toward a locked door to avoid any questioning on what actually does pose a direct threat to us, which is mass-killing weaponry.
“On Thursday, CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju tried to catch Johnson in the halls of the very building where the senator is ostensibly supposed to be answering questions from the news media about the ‘work’ he is doing for the citizens of the United States,” Daily Kos’ Walter Einenkel writes. “Raju wanted to ask Johnson: ‘Why not expand background checks?’ The moment Johnson saw Raju and his cameraperson, it seems he made a quick beeline for one of his office’s doors.” Chickenshit.
But as America’s mass shootings go on with no end in sight, Roll Call reports that Senate Republicans could continue their effort to pass their resolution. “Knowing he has Manchin’s support, Johnson could theoretically request another vote on the measure when the Senate returns from recess in June, and when he has full attendance from his Republican colleagues,” the report said. Once again, plenty of time and energy to bash immigrants, none to stop senseless killings.
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