The Senate is voting right now to limit debate. It needs 60 votes to pass, and we are way past that, but apparently everyone has the opportunity to vote even if the threshold has been reached.
McConnell had a press conference scheduled for 2:30, which was moved back to 2:45.
Link to McConnell. (spit)
McConnell leads off his press conference by saying there were no DEMOCRATIC “no” votes on aid to Ukraine, and he expects that to be true in the Senate as well.
But of course, from there, McConnell leads off with what a terrible mistake it was for Biden to leave Afghanistan! WTF?
McConnell seems to be blaming the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Biden because we left Afghanistan.
On the plus side, McConnell is blaming Tucker Carlson for supporting Putin, so there’s that!
Update: Leader Schumer speaking right now. If you choose “start at the beginning’ go to 4 hrs : 49 minutes to see Schumer’s announcement that this has essentially passed! But waiting for the final vote either tonight or tomorrow. But the outcome is clear.
Link to the Senate sesion and Chuck Schumer (Schumer starts around 4;49)
The Senate on Tuesday advanced the House-passed supplemental funding package to provide long-awaited aid to Ukraine, Israel and other allies, teeing up the legislation for final passage.
Senators voted 80-19 to limit debate on the $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid, $8 billion for Taiwan, and a smorgasbord of national security items that includes a possible ban on TikTok.
“The time has come to finish the job to help our friends abroad once and for all,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday morning on the floor. “I ask my colleagues to join together to pass the supplemental today as expeditiously as possible, send our friends abroad the aid they have long been waiting for. Let us not delay this. Let us not prolong this.”
“Let us not keep our friends around the world waiting for a moment longer,” he added.
A final vote could take place as early as Tuesday night if both parties yield back enough of the 30 hours required between cloture and final passage. If no time is yielded back, a final passage vote would be set for Wednesday night.
Senators are continuing to work toward a possible amendment agreement to speed up a final vote on the four-bill package, but those talks hit a snag over the weekend.
Meanwhile, in the Senate… They Are Getting it Done!Post + Comments (192)
