Congress
Senate expected to advance GOP immigration bill
The Senate is expected to take a bipartisan vote Thursday afternoon advancing the Laken Riley Act, making it the first bill Senate Republicans debate under their new majority.
The bill — which is named after a Georgia nursing student murdered last year and would mandate the detention of undocumented immigrants who are charged with theft or burglary, among other provisions — passed the House earlier this week with notable bipartisan support.
All 52 Republican senators are expected to support the bill, and more than eight Democrats have said they will join them in Thursday’s procedural vote — vaulting the 60-vote filibuster-breaking threshold.
But it’s unclear how many of those Democrats will continue voting to advance the bill. Five have said they would pass the bill in its current form, while others have indicated they want amendments first. With Sen.-elect Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) getting sworn in next week, seven Democrats would have to support final passage.
How Democrats proceed on the bill will be a sign of how the Democratic Party is responding to concerns from Americans on immigration and border security after losing the presidential election and Senate majority last year.
Congress
GOP leaders consider Senate jam plan after House CR vote
House Republican leaders are discussing a plan to pass a seven-week stopgap funding measure Friday then not bring the House back into session until after the Oct. 1 shutdown deadline, according to three people granted anonymity to describe the talks.
No final decision has been made on House scheduling, the people said, but the move would allow the House to “jam” the Senate, giving it no alternative to avoid a shutdown than to pass the GOP-written measure. Democrats there are pushing for a vote on an alternative measure that adds on the minority’s policy priorities.
The Senate, meanwhile, is on track to vote on the House-passed continuing resolution no earlier than next Thursday, with Majority Leader John Thune saying there is “not much sentiment” for allowing votes Friday on the dueling Republican and Democrat stopgaps.
Congress
Major anti-abortion group to brief GOP caucus on expiring Obamacare subsidies
House Republicans have invited a leading anti-abortion group to brief GOP staffers on the looming expiration of Obamacare subsidies, according to an invitation for the event viewed by Blue Light News.
It comes as a growing number of congressional Republicans are calling for an extension before the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire at the end of the year, fearing political blowback for causing premiums to skyrocket and people to lose their health insurance.
At least some of these lawmakers are members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, which is hosting the meeting with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America — one of the most prominent organizations promoting anti-abortion candidates for elected office — and the Foundation for Government Accountability, a right-leaning think tank based in Florida.
“The briefing will provide staff with the opportunity to learn more about the Biden-era health insurance COVID credits, the costs associated with the extension of the credits, and how the credits subsidize abortion nationwide,” the invitation says.
Anti-abortion groups have been making the rounds to congressional offices in recent weeks to make the case that the enhanced credits subsidize elective abortion — in breach of long-standing restrictions enacted by Congress, under the so-called Hyde amendment, that prohibit federal funds to be used for the procedure with few exceptions.
Nearly 100 organizations wrote in a letter to members of Congressional leadership in early September that “Democrats wrote the ACA craftily to avoid the Hyde amendment” and that the enhanced tax credits reduce out-of-pocket premiums for individuals in plans that cover abortion.
Democrats counter that the ACA does comply with the Hyde amendment because it requires insurance plans to segregate out premiums for abortion services and all other coverage areas.
The argument from the anti-abortion advocates could become a major sticking point with conservatives, many of whom are already loath to extend the subsidies on grounds they are too expensive, wasteful and subject to fraud.
Congress
Nancy Mace and Cory Mills clash over failed censure vote
GOP Reps. Nancy Mace and Cory Mills are locked in an escalating personal clash over Mace’s failed effort to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar for her response to the killing of activist Charlie Kirk.
Mills was one of four Republicans to join all Democrats and kill Mace’s censure measure, which fell just one vote short of passing Wednesday.
The Floridian cited “First Amendment” issues for his vote, prompting Mace (R-S.C.) to then accuse Mills and the other Republicans of stifling “free speech” by opposing her effort. In an exchange with Mills on X, she also claimed the Florida Republican “threatened” her by text message Wednesday evening.
Mills denied threatening Mace in a brief interview Thursday. He said he reminded her about her previous position on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, saying: “What would have happened if you shared the video of you condemning President Trump over J6 for free speech?”
“And so, if reminding someone of their own remarks is a threat, well, then that means everyone threatens each other every day to remind someone, ‘Hey, you voted for this, and you did this and you voted for this,’” Mills said.
“This is typical, I’m sorry, but like, I respect Nancy, I like Nancy, I’ve always supported Nancy,” he continued. “But she’s upset that she didn’t get one thing passed because she has some back-and-forth with Ilhan that has nothing to do with me.”
Mills did personally benefit from his vote to table the Omar censure: Democrats pulled back on a retaliatory effort to censure Mills over ethics and domestic abuse allegations that he has denied.
Mills said he would “be fine” with Democrats pushing ahead on their effort to censure him.
Mace said after the Wednesday vote that the GOP opposition was “really gross” and “very disappointing.” A reporter also overheard her telling a colleague that she had sent the four Republicans’ names to President Donald Trump.
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