Senate Democrats to block Homeland Security funding bill again
Senate Dems to block Homeland Security funding bill again
By Ted Barrett, CNN
Updated 4:02 PM ET, Mon February 23, 2015
Washington (CNN)The Republican-led Senate will vote on Monday -- for the fourth time in as many weeks -- to begin debate on a stalled funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which faces a Friday deadline.
But like the three votes before it, Senate Democrats are expected to block taking up the bill that passed the GOP-controlled House because it contains what they consider poison pills -- provisions that would block President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration.
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Boehner tells the Senate to pass DHS funding 00:27
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READ: What happens if DHS shuts down?
With only four days before DHS funding ends -- when large parts of the agency will be shuttered or employees will be forced to work without pay -- the two sides are at a stalemate and there are no known serious negotiations involving congressional leaders or the White House to bridge differences.
"We passed a bill that fully funds the department," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in an interview on CNN. "We'll probably see something come from the Senate this week and we'll have to make some tough choices."
While it wasn't clear what McCaul expects back from the Senate -- since the chamber can't even take up a bill right now -- the chairman warned that with the recent surge in deadly terrorist attacks abroad, "It would be irresponsible for lawmakers and policy-makers to shut down his national security agency at this grave time."
Democrats hoped a recent ruling from a federal judge in Texas blocking, at least temporarily, implementation of the President's most recent immigration orders, would give Republicans a reason to fund the department while the issue plays out in court. But there was little evidence GOP lawmakers would do so.
In fact, Republicans continued to try to pressure centrist Democrats, some who have not fully embraced the President's immigration orders, to change their minds and vote to block Obama from carrying them out.
House Republicans from Virginia wrote a letter to the state's two Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, urging them to approve the House bill.
SEE ALSO: Obama warns governors of looming DHS deadline
"On behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, we urge you to reconsider your votes to protect President Obama's unlawful executive action," the eight lawmakers wrote. "We regard the President's recent action as an affront on our power as legislators, and, by extension, the representation promised to our constituents by our founding fathers."
But there were no signs any of the Democrats were persuaded.
"Let's pass funding for Homeland Security today to show unity against terrorists," one of the targeted Democrats, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri tweeted. "Then R's can bring up immigration for vote immediately after."
In a letter to employees, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the department was making preparations "in the unlikely and unfortunate event that Congress does not fund DHS before Friday night a shutdown of this department occurs."
"Have faith that his difficult and unnecessary situation will be resolved," Johnson said.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/23/politi...-funding-vote/
Senate Democrats Block DHS Funding Bill For A Fourth Time
by Caroline May
23 Feb 2015
363 comments
Senate Democrats blocked debate on a Department of Homeland Security funding bill for a fourth time on Monday.
Last month, the House passed a DHS appropriations bill that also defunds President Obama’s executive amnesty. Senate Democrats have prevented consideration of the bill because it contains provisions blocking Obama’s actions.
House Republicans have said they do not plan on bringing up another iteration of the DHS appropriations bill. And Senate Democrats — including those who have offered concerns and even opposition to Obama’s executive amnesty — have been preventing the bill from even getting to the floor.
Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Al Franken (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Angus King (I-ME) — an independent who caucuses with the Democrats — had all expressed concern about executive amnesty.
Before the vote Monday, Republican Senators expressed frustration with the fact that Democrats were obstructing debate and amendments to the bill.
“[I]t’s time to allow this Homeland Security funding measure to come to the floor. Democrats say they want the ability to amend DHS’ funding legislation,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on the Senate floor. “But then they keep voting to block their own ability to offer amendments.”
With funding for DHS set to expire on February 27 should if Congress fails to pass a funding bill, the clock is ticking for lawmakers to find a path forward.
At a press conference Monday, DHS Sec. Jeh Johnson warned against letting funding for the department lapse and called for Congress to move a DHS funding bill free of provisions blocking Obama’s executive amnesty.
“I support a fully funded Department of Homeland Security, free of any amendments to defund our executive actions. That’s what I support, plain and simple, and that’s what I’ve been urging this Congress to do,” Johnson said.
The funding battle occurs as a lawsuit — brought by 26 states — challenging Obama’s executive amnesty sees movement. Last week a federal judge temporarily blocked the executive actions from taking effect. Monday the Obama administration requested the judge place a stay on the decision as it appeals.
The victory in the courts has emboldened some Republican lawmakers to continue to push forward on the course to defund executive amnesty.
“The Senate Democrats who are filibustering Department of Homeland Security funding should look hard at this ruling,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said last week in reaction to the ruling. “At a time when we face grave national security threats, at home and abroad, it is the height of irresponsibility for the Democrats to block this funding in an extreme attempt to save Obama’s amnesty, which a federal judge has just declared illegal.”
Others, including Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), have suggested the decision could provide an out from the defund fight.
“I agree with the Texas judge who said that the executive orders were illegal. I hope Republicans will come together and back the court case, file a friend of the court brief with the court and fund DHS. I am willing and ready to pass a DHS funding bill and let this play out in court,” Graham said Sunday.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...a-fourth-time/
