The Senate rejected an amendment Friday that would strip $5.1 billion in refugee welfare spending out of a government funding package in a vote of 32-67.
The vote split Republicans with 32 GOP senators supporting the measure and 20 voting “no”. All Democrats opposed the amendment, which was offered by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. The amendment was set at a 50-vote threshold, meaning if enough Republicans had voted “yes,” Paul’s amendment would have passed.
Paul, a fiscal hawk, argued that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for refugee assistance services, citing concerns about welfare fraud and the country’s $38 trillion debt.
“A freelance journalist discovered recently that billions of dollars have been stolen from welfare programs in Minnesota,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor Friday, referring to a viral video from Youtuber Nick Shirley probing fraud in Minnesota’s child care system, perpetrated primarily by people of Somali descent.
“How did Congress respond? Did Congress open an investigation? Did Congress claw back the money for Minnesota? No,” Paul continued. “Congress simply decided to give another $5 billion in refugee welfare. My amendment says ‘stop.’ No more welfare for refugees until a nationwide investigation of the level of this fraud. No more welfare for refugees until Congress balances the budget.”
The amendment vote split Senate GOP leadership with Majority Whip John Barrasso and Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton voting in the affirmative and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and James Lankford of Oklahoma opposing the measure.
Some GOP senators likely voted against the measure over concerns that partisan amendments could ultimately derail the funding package. President Donald Trump also urged the Senate to approve the funding package containing the refugee assistance money.
“Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Thursday offering his praise of the bipartisan deal.
The Senate is expected to approve the bipartisan appropriations package funding roughly 80% of the federal budget later on Friday.
The government is set to partially shut down beginning Saturday at 12:01 a.m. However, the funding lapse is not expected to be prolonged. The House of Representatives is expected to begin consideration of the funding deal as early as Monday.
Paul also recently introduced legislation that would terminate all taxpayer-funded benefits to refugees, asylum seekers and illegal aliens. Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming are sponsoring the measure.
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