A $95.34 billion bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan advanced in the U.S. Senate on Thursday after Republicans blocked compromise legislation that included a long-sought overhaul of immigration policy.

Senators backed a procedural motion by 67-32, exceeding the 60-vote threshold to advance the bill. Seventeen Republicans voted in favor, in a surprising shift after they blocked the broader bill on Wednesday.

“This is a good first step. This bill is essential for our national security, for the security of our friends in Ukraine, in Israel, for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan,” Schumer said in the Senate after the vote.

There was no immediate word on when the 100-member chamber would consider final passage, as some senators said they expected to remain in session during the weekend if necessary.

  • Melkath@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    “This is a good first step. This bill is essential for our national security, for the security of our friends in Ukraine, in Israel, for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan,” Schumer said in the Senate after the vote.

    Wait… enhance.

    “This bill is essential for our national security, for the security of our friends in Ukraine, in Israel, for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan”

    Enhance

    “in Israel, for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza”

    Dear sweet fucking jesus. It is Israel that is killing innocents in Gaza. What kind of mental gymnastics make this statement coherent? You are funding Israel, Israel is creating the need for humanitarian aid in Gaza. The absolute cognitive dissonance and lies.

    • PugJesus@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      Separately, the bill contains provisions for $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, amongst other places.

      Which itself is absurd, but in a slightly different way.

        • PugJesus@kbin.social
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          10 months ago

          Shipping aid that is actively being destroyed by the Israelis is… an interesting way to piss away money.

          • lemmdogmillionaire@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            true but the govt routinely pisses away way more money just to say they sorta tried to do something good… recall how the phone companies were supposed to run fiber internet all over the US

      • Melkath@kbin.social
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        10 months ago

        So when I have a lynching problem in the south, if I give 9 billion to the KKK, but give .15 billion for neosporin to rope-burn victims in the south, I am endorsing a first step worth taking?

        Fuck Shumaker, and the rest of the Fed.

        Too little too late.