Sen. Tillis Urges Senate to Cancel ICE, Border Patrol Vote to Boost Cornyn’s Reelection Bid

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is reportedly warning Senate Republicans that moving ahead this week with a major budget reconciliation package could keep Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in Washington days before his Texas Republican runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Axios reported that Tillis told colleagues “in unequivocal terms” that he would not vote for the reconciliation bill if the Senate considers it this week, citing two people familiar with the matter. The report said Tillis criticized the bill in an email to Republican colleagues Monday morning, while also making clear he could eventually support the overall bill and that his “main two concerns” were timing and any funding associated with President Donald Trump’s “ballroom.”

Republican leaders are still planning to bring the bill to the floor on Thursday after it passes out of committee on Wednesday, Axios reported. The outlet noted the bill is “subject to a vote-a-rama,”