Border Bills Die in Both House, Senate

An emergency funding measure to address the crisis along the Mexican border was blocked in the Senate on Thursday, ensuring that legislation will not reach President Obama’s desk before Congress’s August recess. The measure, which would have provided $2.7 billion in support, was defeated in a procedural 50-44 vote. “It’s very regretful that we’re not able to move forward on it,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after the vote. Earlier Thursday, a separate, $659 million border bill died when Republican leaders could not muster enough votes to pass it on the House floor, largely due to major pushback from Tea Party leaders.