The idea was that the House would propose restrictions on the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The non-negotiable restrictions would include limitations on spending to protect the children in ICE custody and the right of Members of Congress to check on ICE detentions without warning.
The Senate would then vote on its own budget bill for ICE. After that, the two versions would be reconciled and the non-negotiable restrictions on spending would be in the budget.
That did not happen. Instead, Chuck Schumer ("the Senator from Wall Street") once again voted like a Republican. Once again, he also urged the Democratic minority in the Senate to vote Republican.
What was also unmistakably on display this time was Chuck Schumer's new tactic. He acted opposite to what he promised the Democrats in the House. Once the Senate passed the Republican bill, the House had no more negotiating leverage. And the House capitulated. No restrictions on the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to protect the children as in the House bill.
See Jennifer Haberkorn and Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Pelosi Takes a Hit as Congress Approves Border Crisis Money, Los Angeles Times online June 27, 2019.
Chuck Schumer, it's no rumor: You've got to go.
Keep looking behind you on his way out.
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