US Senate defeats border deal, but Ukraine, Israel aid may survive
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) Republicans in the U.S. Senate yesterday defeated a bipartisan effort to bolster border security that had taken months to negotiate, but said they could still approve aid for Ukraine and Israel that had been tied up in the deal.
By a vote of 49-50, largely along party lines, the Senate failed to approve a $118 billion bipartisan package that would tighten immigration laws, help Ukraine fight a Russian invasion and bolster Israel in its war with Hamas.
The measure needed 60 votes to advance in the chamber, which Democrats control by a 51-49 margin.
For months, Republicans have insisted that any additional aid to the two U.S. allies must also address the high numbers of migrants arriving at the U.S-Mexico border - a top voter concern.
But many Republicans promptly rejected the package when it was released on Sunday, even though it contained many of their priorities. Former President Donald Trump, who has pressed them to reject any compromise, has made calls for tight controls of immigration a feature of his campaign to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election.
Only four of the Senate's 49 Republicans voted for the bill.
"Some have been very clear with me they have political differences with the bill," said Republican Senator James Lankford, one of the negotiators.
"They say it's the wrong time to solve the problem, let the presidential election solve the problem."
Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, another one of the deal's authors, said she was baffled by the sudden shift in fortune.
"Three weeks ago, everyone wanted to solve the border crisis," she said. "Yesterday, nobody did."
Still, the defeat of the bill left open the possibility that Congress could yet provide much-needed aid to U.S. allies. The Senate was expected to vote on Thursday on a $96 billion package that strips out the immigration provisions but leaves the foreign aid intact.
An aide to Republican Senator Roger Wicker had predicted that a foreign-aid package would get well over 60 votes in the 100-seat chamber - a rare show of cross-party support.
But Senate leaders delayed action for hours instead, as Republicans sought to agree behind closed doors on a set of amendments that could revive the border debate and modify provisions to aid Ukraine and Israel.
Republican Senator John Cornyn said party members were aiming to come up with amendments on border security and on the distribution of aid to U.S. allies.
"The question is what other amendments do people need in order to allow us to go to final passage," the Texas Republican told reporters.
Cornyn said he was optimistic about reaching a deal but expressed skepticism that an agreement could be ironed out later on Wednesday.
ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) - Two explosions near electoral candidates' offices in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan killed 26 people and wounded dozens yesterday, officials said, raising concerns over security on the eve of a general election.
Pakistan goes to the polls today amid rising militant attacks and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country.
Authorities have said they are boosting security at polling booths.
The first attack, which killed 14 people, took place at the office of an independent election candidate in Pishin district. The second explosion in Qilla Saifullah, near the Afghan border, detonated near an office of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), a religious party that has previously been the target of militant attacks, according to the province's information minister.
The deputy commissioner of Qilla Saifullah, Yasir Bazai, said that 12 people were killed and 25 wounded by a device planted on motorcycle parked near the office.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the two blasts in a message on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
Several other groups, including the Islamist militant Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and separatist groups from Balochistan, oppose the Pakistani state and have also carried out attacks in recent months.