This vote was on whether to allow to be offered an amendment by Jim DeMint, R-S.C., that would have required completion of a 700-mile fence across the U.S.-Mexico border.  The amendment was offered to a bill that would provide supplemental appropriations in fiscal 2010, including extra money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as money for veterans, areas affected by natural disasters, and and funding for some social policy initiatives, such as for teachers and firefighters.

The Senate’s rules require that amendments only be offered to bills at certain times.  DeMint wanted to offer his amendment to the bill at one of those prohibited times.  So he sought to waive the rules in this case and allow his amendment to go forward.

DeMint said Democrats have insisted that the border fence, which is currently partially completed, not be finished until after Congress has enacted a comprehensive immigration reform.

“They are insisting we will not secure our borders until Republicans agree to a comprehensive plan with some form of amnesty and road to citizenship for those who have come here illegally. This is a debate we have had before and it was not settled here as much as it was out across America,” DeMint said.  “Americans have said: Secure the border first. The big immigration bill we were trying to pass in 2006 failed because Americans finally convinced Senators that our first job is to secure the border; otherwise, any immigration policy is irrelevant.”

No one spoke against DeMint’s motion.

By a vote of 45-52, the motion to waive the rules was rejected.  All but one Republican present voted to waive the rules.  Of Democrats present, six voted to waive the rules and 49 voted against waiving the rules (including the most progressive senators).  The end result is that the rules were not waived, and DeMint could not offer his amendment that would have required the 700-mile border fence to be completed.