Milwaukee City Wire

On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Senate conservatives in a press conference led by U.S. Sen Rick Scott (R-Fla.), expressing their concerns about the ongoing negotiations on border security legislation. Sen. Johnson criticized the lack of transparency and the unanswered questions surrounding the border deal. He urged the press to ask these questions and seek answers.

Sen. Johnson raised several important questions about the border deal that have not been addressed. He questioned the thresholds set in the deal, stating, "Why wouldn't we set the threshold at a thousand rather than 4,000 or 5,000?" He also expressed concerns about the discretion and mandatory levels for shutting down the border, asking, "How are they going to do that? Do you have the personnel to actually shut down the border?" Additionally, he questioned the potential hindrance to the next president and the cost implications of processing a large number of individuals daily.

The senator highlighted the cause and effect of the border crisis, tracing it back to the Obama administration and the abuse of prosecutorial discretion. He criticized the Biden administration for abusing parole, which has led to an explosion at the border. Sen. Johnson emphasized that the current situation is unacceptable and called for a solution that secures the border.

Furthermore, Sen. Johnson criticized the lack of negotiating skills from Senate leadership, describing the proposed solution as a "Rube Goldberg solution" that does not address the root cause of the problem. He expressed frustration that the negotiation process seems to be influenced by one individual rather than the conference as a whole.

The press conference was attended by several other senators, including Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

The senator's remarks highlight the concerns and frustrations of Senate conservatives regarding the transparency and effectiveness of the ongoing border security negotiations. They emphasize the need for answers to critical questions and a comprehensive solution that addresses the root causes of the border crisis.