Pennsylvania Senate Republican candidate Dave McCormick is expressing concerns about the Senate’s decision to consider a bipartisan border security agreement, labeling the legislation as “problematic” after visiting the southern border in Arizona over the weekend.
“I honestly think it’s the height of cynicism. I really do because I think the power to stop the flow, the enormous flow of migrants into the country is in the hands of President Biden,” McCormick remarked during an interview on Monday.
I’m walking along the border in Yuma and behind me are the materials to complete the wall.
Joe Biden STOPPED construction of the wall despite taxpayers already paying for the materials and the labor.
This is an egregious waste of taxpayer money while our border is wide-open. pic.twitter.com/sNGNZ8d0If
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) May 18, 2024
McCormick, challenging incumbent Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) in a prominent Senate race, had previously opposed the bipartisan Senate bill when it was introduced. He is now intensifying his criticism, arguing that the bill inadequately secures the southern border while allocating resources to speed up the asylum process.
“We’ve lost sight of the fact that our border is completely out of control,” McCormick said.
McCormick’s critique follows Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) announcement of a plan to vote on the bill initially negotiated by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and James Lankford (R-OK).
The legislation failed in the Senate earlier this year after only four Republicans voted to advance the bill, while six Democrats voted against it, leading to the measure falling short of the 60 votes needed to proceed.
A second vote on the failed legislation will require lawmakers to publicly record their stance on a politically intricate issue before the November election. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to emphasize Biden’s difficulties in securing the border.
Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are seeking reelection in heavily Republican states, while Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) face tough races in key swing states for the presidential election.
McCormick, a Gulf War combat veteran, mentioned a recent trip to Yuma, Arizona, to tour the U.S.-Mexico border and observe the situation firsthand. He expressed that new leadership is needed and believes he could be a strong advocate on this issue.
“While we were there, literally at two in the morning, like 50 or 60 people crossed the border right in front of where I was standing. And just in that group of 50, there were five military-age males from Syria, and there were four or five Chinese nationals,” McCormick noted.
Recent polling shows immigration remains a top concern for voters. A RealClearPolitics polling average indicates 62.4% disapprove of Biden’s handling of immigration. The White House has focused on congressional Republicans who opposed a bipartisan border bill that included some of the strictest border security measures in years, ahead of the November election.
McCormick addressed the notion that he might not engage in bipartisan negotiations despite his objections to the deal.
“I think it would be unfair to read into — because I didn’t support this, for the reasons I’ve said, that I’m not able to compromise and find common ground,” McCormick stated. “I’m not a career politician. Anyone who has ever run a company, anyone that’s served at the level of government I’ve served at knows that you have to find ways to compromise.”
“I’m a conservative, but I’m first and foremost an American, and I have a huge appetite to solve problems,” he added.
