Most Senate Republicans blocked barring the Justice Department from creating an “anti-weaponization” fund as voting began on an immigration-enforcement funding bill on Thursday.
The proposal failed 49-50 with Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Dan Sullivan (Alaska) and Jon Husted (Ohio) voting alongside all Democrats on the measure. It was the first vote in the Senate’s “vote-a-rama” following a two-week delay amid Senate Republican concerns over the proposed fund that was part of a lawsuit settlement between President Donald Trump and the IRS over his leaked tax returns.
The procedural vote was held open for more than three hours as Republicans who’ve been critical of the fund huddled with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican Whip John Barrasso.