Republicans Advance New ‘Slush Fund’ for ICE While Taking Food Aid From Millions
cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/45741552
> > The new GOP legislation will proceed through the budget reconciliation process, which is exempt from the Senate’s 60-vote [filibuster](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/filibuster), enabling Republicans to fund ICE and CBP without Democratic backing.
> >
> > Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said in a statement that the GOP’s proposal “does nothing to protect [healthcare](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/healthcare), help families struggling with groceries, gas prices, and everyday expenses, or make our communities safer.”
> >
> > “House and Senate Republicans just paved the way to hand ICE and CBP another $70 billion without any reforms or accountability,” said Boyle. “Republicans keep telling working families we cannot afford healthcare or relief from the cost-of-living crisis they continue to make worse, but they never seem to have a problem writing massive checks for these out-of-control agencies. I will keep fighting every step of the way to stop this reckless bill.”
> >
> > The forthcoming reconciliation package marks the second time Republicans have used the filibuster-proof budget process to ram through their agenda. Last summer, Republicans passed a sprawling budget reconciliation measure that included unprecedented cuts to [Medicaid](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/medicaid) and nutrition assistance as well as tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
> >
> > The previous legislation also contained [$75 billion for ICE](https://www.citizen.org/news/75-billion-for-ice-cuts-for-citizens-how-the-big-ugly-law-betrays-americans/)—making the agency’s budget [larger than that of the militaries](https://inthesetimes.com/article/ice-immigration-chicago-trump-broadview) of Canada, Australia, [Spain](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/spain), and other nations.
> > The new GOP legislation will proceed through the budget reconciliation process, which is exempt from the Senate’s 60-vote [filibuster](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/filibuster), enabling Republicans to fund ICE and CBP without Democratic backing.
> >
> > Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said in a statement that the GOP’s proposal “does nothing to protect [healthcare](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/healthcare), help families struggling with groceries, gas prices, and everyday expenses, or make our communities safer.”
> >
> > “House and Senate Republicans just paved the way to hand ICE and CBP another $70 billion without any reforms or accountability,” said Boyle. “Republicans keep telling working families we cannot afford healthcare or relief from the cost-of-living crisis they continue to make worse, but they never seem to have a problem writing massive checks for these out-of-control agencies. I will keep fighting every step of the way to stop this reckless bill.”
> >
> > The forthcoming reconciliation package marks the second time Republicans have used the filibuster-proof budget process to ram through their agenda. Last summer, Republicans passed a sprawling budget reconciliation measure that included unprecedented cuts to [Medicaid](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/medicaid) and nutrition assistance as well as tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
> >
> > The previous legislation also contained [$75 billion for ICE](https://www.citizen.org/news/75-billion-for-ice-cuts-for-citizens-how-the-big-ugly-law-betrays-americans/)—making the agency’s budget [larger than that of the militaries](https://inthesetimes.com/article/ice-immigration-chicago-trump-broadview) of Canada, Australia, [Spain](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/spain), and other nations.