Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) sided with Democrats on a string of affordability votes in an overnight “vote-a-rama” session, undercutting GOP messaging even as they backed the party’s immigration funding bill.
Facing competitive reelection races this fall, Collins and Sullivan sided with Democrats on amendments to lower the cost of groceries, energy, healthcare, and prescription drugs, as well as to boost school meal programs and food stamps. Still, both supported final passage of the measure that advances new money for immigration enforcement.
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Democrats used the opportunity to pinch Republicans on affordability issues over the course of several hours and across more than a dozen votes that began Wednesday evening and ended Thursday shortly after 3:30 a.m. None of their proposed amendments passed, however.
The process concluded with the mostly party-line approval — with Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lisa Murkowski being the only Republican opponents — of the budget resolution. The legislation lays the groundwork for roughly $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The measure now heads to the House.
Known as budget reconciliation, the party-line process lets Republicans skirt the filibuster and is part of a two-step plan to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Collins sided with Democrats on 12 of 16 amendment votes, which also dealt with consumer price increases from the Iran war and tariffs, and child care funding. The centrist frequently votes for Democratic amendments during legislative debates but, in the end, often supports the final Republican bill.
Sullivan sided with Democrats on six of the amendments. Murkowski did so on three, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) on two. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) each split from the party on one.
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Collins, Murkowski, McConnell, and Tillis opposed a GOP amendment to include the SAVE America Act for new federal voter I.D. requirements. Collins and Murkowski opposed a GOP effort to bar Medicaid payments to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. Murkowski, Moody, and Collins sided with Democrats on an emergency disaster aid provision, and Hawley supported health insurance and drug pricing amendments.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Collins and Sullivan for comment on their more frequent defections than those of their GOP colleagues, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told Punchbowl News was evidence that “they’re very nervous and they’re very worried.”
