Senate Republicans put Democrats on record for a second time Wednesday as voting against legislation combining Homeland Security funding with rollbacks of President Barack Obama’s immigration policies. But there was little evidence Congress was any closer to funding the department past Feb. 27 as that deadline approaches.
The vote in the Senate was 53 to 47, similar to Tuesday’s vote on a similar procedural measure, and well short of the 60 votes that would be needed to open debate on a House-passed Homeland Security measure. The bill would keep the department funded through Sept. 30, the end of the current budget year, and undo Obama’s executive actions limiting deportations for millions of people who are in the United States illegally.
Another procedural vote is expected today, with perhaps more to come. Democrats said that no matter how many times Republicans hold the vote, the outcome will be the same unless the contested language on immigration is removed.
“This is pretty simple. At a time when the world is united in trying to send a strong signal about confronting ISIS and defeating ISIS, I think putting veto bait in the funding for homeland security is a very bad idea,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., using an acronym for the Islamic State group.
But if the point of blocking the bill is to prove to House conservatives that their legislation would not fly in the Senate, where the Democratic minority holds more sway, the goal had not yet been met.
“We have the strategy, it’s to do what the American people sent us to do. That’s our legislation,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, arguing the public was counting on Republicans to block an unconstitutional overreach by Obama.
From the White House, Obama countered the GOP by hosting an Oval Office meeting with a half-dozen young immigrants protected by his policies. The GOP legislation would subject them to eventual deportation.
After the meeting, Obama accused Republicans of ignoring the “human consequences” of their legislation and repeated his threat to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. As for GOP efforts to link homeland security money to reversing his immigration action, Obama said, “There is no logic to that position.”
Senate Republicans are looking for a way out with alternate legislation to fund the department and roll back the new administration policies limiting deportations while keeping protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
But with about three weeks left before the deadline, several House conservatives said they were still sticking with Plan A.
“This is the plan and so I say charge forward with it,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.
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