Five Democrats joined Senate Republicans to block a sweeping defense policy spending bill, putting the legislation in a state of limbo as Congress heads into a busy end-of-year schedule.
According to reporting from The Hill, “The Senate voted 45-51 to start winding down debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets spending levels and policy for the Pentagon. But that is short of the 60 votes needed to overcome the hurdle.”
RINO Senator Susan Collins (Maine) once again betrayed her party, siding with the Democrats. Democrat Senators Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Oregon), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Ron Wyden (Oregon), and Bernie Sanders (Vermont) joined Republicans in voting against moving forward.
Video of the vote was shared on Twitter by The Hill.
“Senate Republicans block a sweeping defense policy bill, amid a stalemate on allowing votes on potential changes to the legislation,” the outlet wrote.
Senate Republicans block a sweeping defense policy bill, amid a stalemate on allowing votes on potential changes to the legislation. pic.twitter.com/hI24AS8Rxj
— The Hill (@thehill) November 30, 2021
Of course, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer only spoke out about the Republicans who voted against moving forward with the bill.
“Republicans just blocked legislation to support our troops, support our families, keep Americans safe. Republican dysfunction has again derailed bipartisan progress,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
The main issue Republicans are having with this defense spending is a proposal for sanctions related to the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline. While Joe Biden has shut down the Keystone XL pipeline in the United States, effectively ending energy independence, he waived sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, angering many Americans.
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has stated that the Biden administration is encouraging and emboldening U.S. adversaries and sending a message of weakness and appeasement by allowing Russia to continue with this pipeline project.
Unsurprisingly, the Biden Admin. continues to ignore Congress' will on #NordStream2, therefore abandoning #Ukraine & handing #Russia energy leverage over our #EU allies. To stop this, I introduced an amendment to #FY22NDAA imposing sanctions on #NS2. https://t.co/JD6XxCPK75
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) November 8, 2021
Republicans have also cited amendments related to Ukraine and China as other reasons for delaying the bill’s progress.
