The U.S. Senate can work quickly if ony two senators are involved. Yesterday, reports the Wall Street Journal, the chamber approved a $600 million border-security bill in 31 minutes, from opening gavel to final passage. While their colleagues enjoyed a summer recess, Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer flew in from New York and fellow Democrat Sen. Ben Cardin drove from Baltimore to represent the entire Senate in the cavernous chamber.
Schumer said that he hoped the bill, which provides 1,500 additional border agents, would “clear the path” for talks on revamping the nation’s immigration rules. The bill, which already had been endorsed by Republicans and passed by the House, was approved by the Senate by unanimous consent. Just like that, it was on its way to the president’s desk.