The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Babel and Walter Cronkite
  • EXCLUSIVE: Republican Reps Visit Maine Prison and Speak with Victims of Trans Inmate Despite “Tight Lipped” Officials
  • Years-Old Howland Corner Store Arson Investigation Finally Leads to Arrest
  • SCOTUS Considers Legality of Accepting Ballots After Election Day
  • Whitefield Man Arrested after Stealing from Rockland Apartment and Filling it with Skunk Essence
  • Kennebec Sheriff’s Department Busts Two 18-Year-Olds for Liquor Burglary
  • Vice President Vance Launches Federal Fraud Task Force Led by Andrew Ferguson, Promises Government-Wide Crackdown
  • ICE Arrests Congolese National During Lewiston Enforcement Operation
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Saturday, March 28
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Featured » Senate Passes Massive Spending Package While Voting Down Republican Amendments to Curtail Illegal Immigration
Featured

Senate Passes Massive Spending Package While Voting Down Republican Amendments to Curtail Illegal Immigration

Seamus OthotBy Seamus OthotMarch 25, 2024Updated:March 25, 20246 Comments5 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
In shocking video posted to X by New York Post reporter Jennie Taer, video journalist James Beeden captures the moment hundreds of illegal aliens storm through a blockade of Texas National Guard troops. (Source: Screenshot - James Breeden for the NY Post)
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Senate Democrats voted down a series of conservative amendments to a massive spending package which would have prevented the use of federal funds to facilitate the unprecedented and ongoing wave illegal immigration at the southern border.

The spending package then passed with bipartisan support.

“Every single Senate Democrat voted against my amendment that would stop Biden Admin from using taxpayer dollars to charter flights for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from their countries directly to American towns to be resettled. Indefensible,” said Sen. Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.) on X.

Tonight every single Senate Democrat voted against my amendment that would stop Biden Admin from using taxpayer dollars to charter flights for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from their countries directly to American towns to be resettled.

Indefensible. pic.twitter.com/ofTnhSPnY8

— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) March 23, 2024

Sen. Haggerty’s amendment would have indirectly prevented the federal government from funding chartered flights bringing illegal immigrants directly from their home countries into the U.S. by tabling another amendment put forward by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The senate vote on the Hagerty amendment was held in the early morning, at 1:35 am on Saturday, and saw unanimous opposition from Democrats, with a final result of 51 against to 47 in favor, with two Republicans, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) absent.

Sen. Angus King (D-Maine) voted with Democrats against the amendment, while Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted with her party in support of the amendment.

[RELATED: Angus King Wants American Military Using “Off the Shelf” Gear While Biden Admin Sends Ukraine Billions…]

Hours before the senate rejected Haggerty’s motion, another Republican amendment meant to curtail illegal immigration suffered the same fate.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) proposed an amendment which would have stopped federal funding for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app from being used to help people attempting to enter the country illegally.

Not a single Democrat voted to stop the government from aiding criminals with taxpayer money, and the amendment failed, with 51 against and 45 voting in favor.

Once again, the vote was largely split along party lines, with four Republicans absent, while Sen. King voted with Democrats and Sen. Collins voted with her party.

Republicans also failed to pass amendments that would have stopped the release of illegal immigrations deemed security risks into the country, and one which would stop funding local governments which fail to report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) before releasing illegals.

Conservative senate failures over the weekend were not limited to illegal immigration, they also failed to stop Democrats from using federal funding to restrict free speech.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) put forward a motion which would have barred federal funds from being used to label speech as disinformation and stopped the government from coercing online platforms into removing speech.

“My amendment tackles a fundamental that should bring us together as a senate, protecting Americans’ First Amendment rights in the virtual town square. The First Amendment is the beating heart of our constitution,” said Sen. Schmitt on the senate floor.

I put forth a simple amendment that would prevent government-funded censorship of Americans online.

Every Democrat voted against it. https://t.co/E0tyBMocx7 pic.twitter.com/sbNUVMJuWv

— Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) March 23, 2024

Like the other two amendments, Schmitt’s failed following a party line vote with support from Collins and opposition from King.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) attempt to stop federal funding for schools which allow biological males into girl’s sports also failed.

Amid the flurry of Republican losses, the Senate voted to pass the massive $1.2 trillion spending package, which was then sent to the president and signed into law.

Despite the Republican failures in the bill, the final vote was supported by numerous Republicans, including Collins, with 74 senators voting in favor and 24 voting against during a 2:00 am vote.

Twenty-two Republicans opposed the bill, along with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Color.) who wanted it to contain more aid for Ukraine, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.T.) who held out for aid to Palestine.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) came under fire from many in his party for advancing the massive spending package, which provides funding for multiple Democrat causes, in an attempt to avert a possible government shutdown.

After the spending package passed through the house on Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a resolution calling for the removal of Rep. Johnson from his position as speaker.

“This is a betrayal of the American people. This is a betrayal of Republican voters. And the bill that we were forced to vote on forced Republicans to choose between funding to pay our soldiers and, in doing so, funding late-term abortion. This bill was basically a dream and a wish list for Democrats and for the White House,” said Rep. Greene.

BREAKING IN WASHINGTON: Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says, "I filed a motion to vacate today… This is basically a warning…to find a new Speaker of the House." WATCH pic.twitter.com/hzflRM0ZOG

— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 22, 2024

Greene said that her resolution is meant as a warning for the Speaker, but affirmed that she does not want to spark a major conflict among House Republicans.

The house will not vote on the motion to vacate the speaker position immediately, and, according to information provided to CNN, Greene plans to use the coming two-week recess to consider when to bring the resolution to a vote.

Greene’s resolution was filed fewer than six months after Johnson took over as speaker from Kevin McCarthy, the former speaker who was removed after he, like Johnson, worked with Democrats to avert a government shutdown.

[RELATED: Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Announces He Will Leave Congress at the End of This Year…]

McCarthy himself served as Speaker for less than a year, and has since left congress entirely.

Previous ArticleLinda L. Bean, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and GOP Donor, Has Died at Age 82
Next Article Push for Oversight of Rulemaking for Vehicle Emissions Standards Gains Ground in Augusta
Seamus Othot

Seamus Othot is a reporter for The Maine Wire. He grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated from The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, where he was able to spend his time reading the great works of Western Civilization. He can be reached at [email protected]

Latest News

Vice President Vance Launches Federal Fraud Task Force Led by Andrew Ferguson, Promises Government-Wide Crackdown

March 27, 2026

DOJ Launches Investigation Into Maine Prison Policies, Escalating Clash Between Trump Administration and Gov. Janet Mills

March 26, 2026

Systemic Oversight Failures Imperil Billions in Medicaid and Child Welfare Funding: New State Audit

March 26, 2026
0 0 votes
Article Rating
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
is it fubr yet
is it fubr yet
2 years ago

So let me see if I got this right, Dumbocrats say reduce fossil fuel, reduce fertilizers, reduce energy consumption, end homelessness… then they bring in 12 million more people that actually makes these issues worse? You would think that even the dullest of liberals could see this. Go ahead contact your representative ask how bringing in millions helps any of their environmental or social goals? This is why we can’t have nice things.

4
beachmom
beachmom
2 years ago

Collins still voted for the spending, including all the pork of which she put in her fair share of items.

3
sandy feet
sandy feet
2 years ago

When one drives the east coast advoid Richmond, DC, Baltmore, Phillie. NYC, and Boston where cop have been shot if you want to live. And if it keeps up Portland Mills.

1
Carl Mason
Carl Mason
2 years ago

Tired of Biden yet?

3
sandy feet
sandy feet
2 years ago

Gov. Mills illegal immigrants need housing . Give them a grow house in Maine we need the tax money.

0
Chris
Chris
2 years ago

Keep voting for those dems. That’s right, those ones backed by Soros and the WEF and who think we need that wide open border for those huddled masses.

0
Recent News

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Reps Visit Maine Prison and Speak with Victims of Trans Inmate Despite “Tight Lipped” Officials

March 28, 2026

Years-Old Howland Corner Store Arson Investigation Finally Leads to Arrest

March 28, 2026

SCOTUS Considers Legality of Accepting Ballots After Election Day

March 28, 2026

Whitefield Man Arrested after Stealing from Rockland Apartment and Filling it with Skunk Essence

March 27, 2026

Kennebec Sheriff’s Department Busts Two 18-Year-Olds for Liquor Burglary

March 27, 2026
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

wpDiscuz