WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill that would crack down on Syrian and Iraqi refugees entering the U.S.
Senate Democrats sought to force election-year votes as businessman Donald Trump -- who leads in national polls for the Republican presidential nomination -- has called for barring Muslims from coming to the United States. Republicans wanted similar votes on politically fraught amendments.
The Senate fell short of the three-fifths needed to move ahead. The vote was 55-43. Arkansas' two senators, both Republicans, voted for the measure.
The House legislation would require new FBI background checks and individual sign-offs from three high-ranking federal officials before any refugee from Syria or Iraq could enter the U.S. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act cleared the House in November in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. It received 289 votes, a veto-proof margin that included 47 Democrats -- despite President Barack Obama's opposition.
"This bill is just another step in the absolute wrong direction, the direction of Donald Trump," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid told reporters before the vote. "The Democrats are committed to opposing the hateful views of Trump and his Republican enablers."
Senate Republicans who backed the House bill said it is difficult to effectively vet immigrants from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq, where record keeping is poor -- or may not exist at all. They also said senior U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials have expressed concern that the Islamic State may try to exploit the refugee screening program.
"So is it any wonder that the citizens we represent are concerned?" said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "No wonder dozens of Democrats joined with Republicans to pass this balanced bill with a veto-proof majority over in the House."
After the vote, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., criticized Democrats for blocking the bill and accused Obama of ignoring the threat posed by extremists.
"The United States has a long history of providing sanctuary to refugees fleeing from persecution and war-torn countries like Syria. However, Arkansans are rightfully concerned that the Obama administration does not have an effective plan to protect Americans from radical Islamic extremism here at home," he said in a statement. "The confidence in security officials' ability to root out terrorists trying to exploit our good graces to carry out attacks simply does not exist."
Three of the Republican presidential candidates -- Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- left the campaign to return to Washington to vote for moving ahead on the measure.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont missed the vote as did Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who was campaigning for Jeb Bush in New Hampshire.
Two Democratic senators from GOP-leaning states -- Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia -- voted with Republicans to move ahead on the legislation.
For Democrats facing tight 2016 elections, opposing the bill may put them in the difficult position of rejecting what many consider to be a reasonable anti-terror measure after a terrible tragedy. Those concerns surfaced ahead of the House vote in November when White House aides went to the Capitol to win over Democrats in a private meeting. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., told them that voting no could hurt Democrats at the polls, according to aides in attendance.
Reid said Democrats wanted to propose an increase in anti-terrorism money for police forces and airport security and propose banning the sale of guns and explosives to people on federal terrorism watch lists.
This House bill, Reid said, "scapegoats refugees who are fleeing war and torture instead of creating real solutions to keep Americans safe."
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the bill is a security test, not a religious one.
"This reflects our values," Ryan said. "This reflects our responsibilities."
Cruz announced Tuesday that he was canceling two events in New Hampshire and rescheduling two others to return to Washington to vote. While Republicans said the bill contains no religious tests for the refugees, Cruz and White House rival Bush have suggested giving preferences to Christians.
Obama has scolded politicians for raising worries over taking in refugees fleeing the Islamic State's harsh rule in Syria and Iraq, where it controls territory.
"Apparently, they're scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America," Obama said when the House voted last year. The White House has said Obama will veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.
Voters' concerns about terrorism have surged at the same time their confidence in the government's ability to defeat the Islamic State and other extremist groups has plummeted, according to a national survey conducted in December by the Pew Research Center.
Information for this article was contributed by Donna Cassata of The Associated Press.
A Section on 01/21/2016