House Speaker Mike Johnson is issuing a strong warning to senators involved in negotiations over a border deal, stating in a letter that it could face significant challenges in the House.
The letter, obtained by POLITICO, conveys Johnson’s concerns about the rumored contents of the draft proposal, suggesting that it might be “dead on arrival” in the House.
While not explicitly ruling out the consideration of a Senate bill, Johnson emphasizes the need for House Republicans to be satisfied with the proposed border measures.
He reiterates that if the GOP members in the House believe the deal falls short in addressing border security, it is unlikely to gain support in the chamber.
Johnson Issues Warning in Senate Border Talks (Credits: Politico)
The negotiations involve a bipartisan group of senators, including Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), aiming to unveil the text of the bill early next week. The agreement is expected to link new border funding with aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Conservative Republicans, led by Johnson, have consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the rumors surrounding the deal’s contents, which have been kept confidential. Lankford has countered some of these concerns, stating that certain aspects are being misrepresented.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has faced challenges within his party regarding the deal, with former President Donald Trump and some allies seeking to undermine the agreement.
Some Republicans believe that delaying the deal could be advantageous, allowing them to use border-related issues against President Joe Biden in the upcoming November elections.
The passage of a border-foreign aid deal in the House is expected to be complex, given the skepticism among House Republicans regarding additional funding for Ukraine, even with increased border security measures.
There is also internal discord, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) threatening to attempt to remove Speaker Johnson if he brings the deal to the floor.
House Republicans have maintained a demand for any Ukraine funding to be paired with stringent border measures. They passed a comprehensive border bill last year, which included changes to the asylum system and the resumption of the U.S.-Mexico border wall construction.
Insisting on aligning any new border deal with their previous legislation, House Republicans present a challenge for Senate Democrats who may find these terms unacceptable.
