Sinema and Graham Quarrel on Senate Floor Over Failed Border Deal

On Thursday, emotions ran high on the Senate floor as Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Lindsey Graham argued over the latter’s refusal to allow the deal to even be considered.

Starting calmly

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Things started reasonably, with Graham acknowledging that the deal “did a pretty good job in many ways.” Sinema was one of the chief negotiators behind the Omnibus deal, which included tens of billions of dollars in funding for increased border security and aid for Israel and Ukraine.

Voicing concerns

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However, Graham then clarified that he “didn’t think it was enough.” The language echoed that of other top Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump, who urged Republican lawmakers to reject any border deal “unless we get EVERYTHING.”

Not even considered

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Sinema then asked Graham why he blocked the bill from coming to the Senate floor. Graham’s vote against letting the bill be debated also precluded Senators from offering amendments.

No holds barred

“Here is what I’m saying,” Graham said. “This has been a half-ass effort to deal with border security.”

Talking over each other

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Graham continued, his voice getting louder as Sinema repeatedly tried to ask follow-up questions. “I didn’t see any willingness by anybody to allow an amendment process where we could deal with the border issue. That’s ass-backwards.”

Killing it before it could be considered

“Could you help me understand why you voted against the motion to proceed,” Sinema was finally able to ask, “before we’re able to offer any amendments?”

No chance

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“I think the fix is in,” Graham said. “That’s why I voted no, because I didn’t see any willingness” to actually debate amendments.

In summation

“So to my colleague from Arizona: no, no, no,” Graham concluded. “This has not been a real effort to find border security in a bipartisan way.”

Bizarre claim

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As Sinema pointed out, “Sen. Graham’s team and Sen. Graham himself were integral parts” of the monthslong negotiations that led to the border deal. “His top staff were in the room when we negotiated the bill,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy echoed. “We negotiated key provisions directly with him.”

Following orders

“They are a disaster right now. How can you trust any Republicans right now?” Murphy declared on Tuesday. “They told us what to do. We followed their instructions to the letter. And then they pulled the rug out from under us in 24 hrs.”

Key team

Murphy, Sinema, Graham, and Republican Senator James Lankford were the four driving forces behind the border deal. The deal made numerous, significant concessions to conservative border priorities, including the creation of a new presidential power that would effectively shut down the border after certain thresholds of migrant encounters were reached.

Extremely conservative

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In January, Mitch McConnell acknowledged this, telling his Republican colleagues that “if we had a 100-percent Republican government — president, House, Senate — we would probably not get a single Democratic vote” for anything as conservative as what is currently being proposed.

Bizarre tactic

Progressives mocked Murphy and other Democrats for their apparent shock at Republicans operating in bad faith. One user on X compared the situation to the famous joke from Peanuts, in which Lucy repeatedly convinces Charlie Brown to try and kick a football, always pulling it away at the last second and sending him crashing onto the ground.

Widespread anger

“Why exactly should I vote for an ‘opposition’ party that follows GOP instructions to the letter?” One user wrote on X. “Why are they following Republicans demands and not their voters?” another asked.

Obstructionism

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer blamed the situation on politicians knowing they can get attention “simply by saying ‘no’ to everything and demonizing things before you’ve seen them.” “It’s become way too easy to do that, there’s too much of an audience for it. It’s a lot easier than doing the hard work of legislating.”