Sessions: Omnibus gives Obama 'blank check' on immigration, Syrian refugees

By PAUL BEDARD • 12/1/15 10:46 AM

Congress' plan to lump the next fiscal year's budget into a huge omnibus spending bill will give President Obama a blank check victory on his open door immigration plans and bid to settle thousands of Syrian refugees in America, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions warned Tuesday.

"As currently written, this year's appropriations bills – which will be combined into a catch-all 'omnibus' by December 11th – amount to a blank check for the president to carry out his refugee resettlement plans," he said in a statement.

"Not only will the president be allowed to bring in the 85,000 refugees he has announced on top of current record immigration levels, but this will include at least 10,000 refugees from Syria who will subsequently be able to bring in their foreign relatives. All refugees are eligible for lifetime government assistance and can draw funds from Social Security and Medicare at Americans' expense. More than 90 percent of recent Middle Eastern refugees are on welfare. And they are on a fast-track to becoming voting U.S. citizens," added the senator.

The immigration and Syrian refugee plan have faced criticism from lawmakers and GOP governors and could become a flashpoint during voting. As a result, it could result in a government shutdown if the funding isn't cut, according to congressional sources.

Sessions urged Congress to be more selective in funding to be included in the omnibus.

"The president's annual funding requests are just that: requests," he said.

"Now is the hour of choosing for Congress; will we surrender – funding Obama's entire immigration agenda – or will we assert Congress's power on behalf of the interests of the American people, and declare by appropriations what programs are worthy and what are not?" he added.

Sessions noted that the plan would fund Obama's continuation of "sanctuary cities," those towns who let go illegal immigrants wanted for crimes, provide nearly 700,000 immigration "green cards," and expansion of a visa worker program that has been criticized for letting companies replace higher-paid Americans with foreign workers.

His full statement is here.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/se...rticle/2577352