"It isn't tied to DHS' funding," McConnell said. "It removes their excuse." (AP)
GOP uncouples immigration fight from Homeland funding bill
With just four days remaining before Department of Homeland Security funding runs out, Senate Republicans Monday signaled they could be edging toward a solution to end weeks of spending gridlock with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced standalone legislation to block President Obama’s November executive action that permits millions of illegal immigrants to obtain work permits and some federal benefits.
The move uncouples the GOP-backed provision curbing the president’s executive actions from a $40 billion Homeland Security spending bill that Democrats have been blocking because it includes the immigration language.
“The new bill I described offers another option we can turn to,” McConnell said Monday. “It’s another way to get the Senate unstuck from a Democrat filibuster and move the debate forward.”
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The measure would not block the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The DACA program was implemented by Obama through executive action in 2012 and allows young people who arrived here illegally as children to obtain work permits and federal benefits.
"It isn’t tied to DHS’ funding," McConnell said. "It removes their excuse. This is our colleagues’ chance to do exactly what they led their constituents to believe they’d do — defend the rule of law, without more excuses."
McConnell introduced the new legislation after Democrats for the fourth time Monday blocked the GOP’s effort to to advance the spending bill. Congress faces a Feb. 27 deadline to reach a deal on a funding bill or the department will face a partial closure.
Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, have not confirmed they will pass a short-term funding measure by the end of the week but Republican leaders have said repeatedly they plan to avoid politically-damaging government shutdowns while they control the gavel in both chambers for the first time in eight years.
A recent CNN/ORC poll found that 53 percent of Americans would blame the GOP if Homeland Security funding lapses.
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Republicans faced new pressure to come up with a spending deal on Monday after the weekend brought news of a new Islamic State terror threat to American shopping malls.
Democrats used the new threats to increase pressure on Republicans end the impasse, even though they, not the GOP, are blocking the bill.
“I’m very disappointed at the political ploy used by the Congressional Republican leadership to force a shutdown of Homeland Security that will only hurt our nation.” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. “In this environment, why would you want to shut off funding for Homeland Security?”
If Congress does not pass a new spending bill by Friday, essential Homeland Security employees would continue to report to work even if the department isn’t funded. Essential employees include airport screeners, border enforcement and customs officials, among many others. But Homeland Security employees would not be paid until a new spending deal is signed into law.
Republicans may move to pass a temporary spending measure by the end of the week, GOP aides told the Washington Examiner but no decision has been made.
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“We continue to participate in conversations with leadership and the Senate on a path forward for this week,” a top aide to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who would author the stopgap bill, said.
As on the past three occasions, the Homeland Security bill was defeated Monday mostly along party lines by a vote of 47-46, falling shy of the 60 votes needed to block a filibuster. All Democrats voted against the measure. Sen. Dean Heller, of Nevada, was the sole Republican "no" vote.
Democrats object to the provisions in the legislation that curb Obama’s executive actions on immigration. They are insisting on a “clean” bill that excludes provisions on immigration.
But Republicans may try another option that strips out only the immigration language considered the most unpalatable to Democrats.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., is proposing a Homeland Security spending measure that strips out language to end DACA.The proposal would leave in the language curbing Obama’s November executive action providing work permits and benefits to millions more illegal immigrants.
Some Senate Republicans believe leaving DACA intact in the spending bill can win over enough Democrats to prevent a filibuster, but others disagree.
“I highly doubt changing the bill is a possibility,” one GOP aide told the Examiner. “Democrats think they will win whatever blame game happens in the media so they have no reason to compromise.”
In the meantime, though, a short-term spending measure, known as a continuing resolution, could come to the floor by the end of the week, Republican aides said.
“They’re going to have to do a CR, even if it’s just through the weekend,” the GOP aide said.
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