Border bill may create threat to Mitch McConnell's leadership
In 2022, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell survived a challenge to his position by Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott.
However, this week has seen a series of renewed calls for the longtime Kentucky lawmaker's removal.
"We need new leadership--now"
According to the Daily Mail, those calls are coming from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee in response to McConnell's support for a bipartisan border bill.
"This feels like an elaborate practical joke. But it’s not funny. Not one bit," Lee wrote in a post on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
"I cannot understand how any Republican would think this was a good idea—or anything other than an unmitigated disaster," Lee continued before adding, "WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP — NOW."
Lee followed those words up with another post which read, "Senate GOP leadership screwed this up—and screwed us."
Senate GOP leadership screwed this up—and screwed us. Even while refusing to let us see the bill they claimed to be negotiating on our behalf—for MONTHS—they were never in doubt, insisting we’d be dumb and even unpatriotic NOT to support it. This is a disqualifying betrayal. https://t.co/PZnI6KorFK
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 5, 2024
Legislation slammed as "a disqualifying betrayal"
"Even while refusing to let us see the bill they claimed to be negotiating on our behalf — for MONTHS — they were never in doubt, insisting we'd be dumb and even unpatriotic NOT to support it. This is a disqualifying betrayal," Lee complained.
Lee is not alone in expressing outrage over the legislation, as Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance has expressed outrage as well.
"'The border never closes' is a good summary of this bill, and of Joe Biden's policy," Vance wrote in a post of his own on Sunday.
Critics say bill does more for Ukraine than America's border
Fox News noted that critics of the bill have listed a litany of complaints, including that it allows the president to suspend its provisions for a 45-day period when he believes it is in the "national interest."
Also of concern is the provision of taxpayer-funded legal representation for migrants as well as the allocation of $1.4 billion to non-profit organizations for migrant resettlement.
What's more, many Republicans also assert that the bill provides more resources to help secure the borders of Ukraine than it does those of the United States.
