Desperate Democrats Revive Border Bill
Author: Greg Valliere
May 20, 2024
TRAILING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE and in danger of losing the Senate, Democrats are planning to revive an immigration reform bill later this week, in a move that probably won’t result in the enactment of legislation. But it may be good politics, highlighting the Biden Administration’s belated desire to pass a border bill.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER said this past weekend that he plans to move the same bill that failed earlier this year. Even Schumer conceded that passage will be difficult, but this will give Democrats some cover; they can claim that they moved a bill.
REPUBLICANS, MEANWHILE, ARE TAKING THEIR ORDERS FROM DONALD TRUMP, who made it clear earlier this year that he doesn’t want immigration reform; he wants to keep the issue for his fall campaign, when immigration will be a dominant topic.
BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DESPERATE, as fresh polls show the public is turning more anxious again on inflation. We talked with Democrats last week who concede that they have only two dominant issues — health reform and abortion. Illegal immigration is a terrible albatross for the Democrats.
THE PROSPECT OF STEEP SENATE LOSSES HAS PROMPTED SCHUMER to seek protection for vulnerable Democratic senators, including Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), both of whom would like to support a strong immigration bill, A tough measure also would help Democrats in tossup states with vacant seats like West Virginia and Arizona.
WITH THE MEMORIAL DAY BREAK FAST APPROACHING, Democrats are speculating in private that if Biden stumbles in his June 27 debate with Trump, there still could be time for Democrats to seek another nominee before their mid-August convention. The idea of the Democrats seeking another candidate will not die.
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