Senate GOP blocks border bill, Democrats shift focus to Israel and Ukraine aid

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will move to a "Plan B" to move aid to Ukraine and Israel following the failure of a vote to start debate on a bipartisan border security package.

Before the border vote Schumer, D-N.Y., released a new bill that stripped border provisions from the $118 billion bipartisan package. Schumer said he aimed to move forward with the legislation on Wednesday but the timing is unclear.

Senators huddled throughout the border vote to discuss a path forward. Some Republicans are requesting commitments on amendments or other concessions before deciding if they will agree to start debate on that bill.

Democrats blame Republicans for border bill failure

Schumer called out Republicans who demanded that aid to Ukraine be linked to changes in the Biden administration's border policies, only to walk away from a bipartisan proposal that a top GOP senator and Republican leadership aides were involved in crafting.

He said he still hoped they would agree to debate the border deal, but had lined up a back up plan in consultation with the White House to move the billions in money for Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian assistance for civilians impacted in conflict zones.

"Well, we're going to give them both options. We'll take either one. We just hope they can come to yes on something," Schumer said. He suggested to reporters he believed the national security funding bill minus the border deal had the 60 votes it would need to advance. He vowed there would be a "fair and open process on amendments."

Republicans mull a response

The top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., initially signaled he favored moving the legislation supporting key allies. He said he took direction from GOP colleagues to