Ukraine bill

Schumer thinks Ukraine bill, stripped of border deal, will get enough votes to advance later today

Ted Barrett and Kristin Wilson

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he thinks a national security supplemental spending bill — stripped of border policy changes opposed by GOP senators — will get enough bipartisan support to get at least 60 votes, the number it needs to succeed on a roll call vote planned for later Wednesday.

"Yes," he told reporters in the Capitol when asked if the thought that measure would get enough votes to advance.  

Remember: The bill, which will still need to be debated and voted on in the coming days, has desperately needed money for Ukraine as well as funds for Israel, Taiwan, and civilians in Gaza. Before that vote, the Senate will vote on the original foreign aid bill with the border provisions still in it. But most Republicans are expected to vote against that bill, blocking its path.

Speaking at news conference later, Schumer chided Republicans for having demanded border policy changes be part of the foreign aid bill than walking away from a bipartisan compromise.  Schumer also addressed the bill's unclear future in the GOP-led House.  

"The majority of Republicans in the House said they want to do Ukraine, they want to do Israel. And we hope that if we pass it in the Senate, that the House would then rise to the occasion. The House is in chaos. It doesn't behoove the Speaker well to block everything because 30 hard rightwing people just want chaos like Donald Trump," he said.