By Nancy Thorner –
Republicans should be pleased over a recent Paragon Insights survey indicating that 58 percent of registered voters oppose Obama’s executive actions, while 53% of registered voters told pollsters they support Republicans in Congress taking away federal funding. The poll questions posed made light of the four million undocumented immigrants that would avoid deportation and be able to seek jobs. 71% of registered voters even indicated they would support legislation tightening regulations on hiring illegal immigrants.
In January, the House passed a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that blocks funding for Obama’s executive actions. The House bill was sent over to the Senate where Democrats proceeded to block its “Motion to Proceed”. In the interim, and following a luncheon meeting with the Senate GOP conference on Feb. 5th, Sen.Jim Risch (R-Idaho) requested that the House pass another bill funding the Department of Homeland Security that would have a better chance of passing the Senate. The thinking being that the bill couldn’t be amended because Senate Democrats had already managed to filibuster the House-passed DHS spending bill for three days in a row, objecting to riders that would kill the President’s immigration policies.
Senator Risch then reminded the Senate GOP conference that since Democrats are locked up against the bill, Republican senators can do no more as the Constitution requires that all appropriations bills must start in the House.
Senator Risch wants the House to come up with a Plan B. Republican Senator Susan Collins offered an amendment as a compromise that would protect “Dreamers” who were brought to the United States illegally as children and whose deportations have been deferred as a result of a 2012 program Obama created. Collin’s amendment, however, would reverse Obama’s 2014 actions and as such would be subject to veto by President Obama.
Time is running out. As funding for the Department of Homeland Security will run out on Feb. 27th, Congress must pass a new DHS spending bill by that date. Instead of caving in when Republicans finally have the leverage, they should continue to file “Motions to Proceed.” When Democrats react by blocking Motions to Proceed, Republican senators should take to the media and the Senate floor to demand that Democrats not shut down the DHS. This can happen, but Republican Senators have to stick together.
More importantly, a Plan B isn’t needed because it will only distract from the President’s unlawful actions. Instead, funding and resources must be blocked from implementing Obama’s illegal amnesty executive actions.
Senator Jim Risch (Idaho is a R+18 state.) is too willing to give up the fight in the Senate on defunding Obama’s unlawful actions, questionable because his state is so Republican in its makeup. Call and email Senator Risch and ask him to fight for the defunding of Obama’s unlawful amnesty.
