Sen. Ted Cruz urged fellow Senate Republicans to use whatever congressional authority they have to push back at President Obama’s immigration reforms, including blocking presidential nominees and threatening to defund certain government programs or agencies.
While the Texas Republican stopped short of calling for an outright government shutdown to stop Obama’s executive action to allow more than 4 million illegal immigrants to legally remain in the United States, he called on Congress to “stand up and use the power of the purse to say … we will fund the operation of the federal government but we will not allocate taxpayer dollars to lawless and illegal amnesty.”
Speaking to a crowd of conservative activists gathered outside the Capitol Wednesday afternoon, Cruz called on Republicans not to shirk from campaign promises to stop the president’s “illegal amnesty.”
“One month ago on Election Day, America had a referendum on amnesty,” he said. “Republican candidates in the House and Republican candidates in the Senate campaigned across this country and they said … if you elect us will will do everything possible to stop President Obama’s illegal amnesty,” he said.
“What I’m here urging my fellow Republicans to do is very, very simple: Do what you said you would do. Honor your commitment.”
Cruz also called on incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to block most Obama nominations unless the president rescinds the immigration directive.
McConnell “should announce that if President Obama proceeds with his illegal amnesty, not a single presidential nominee — executive or judicial — will be confirmed other than vital national security positions,” he said. “That is an explicit power given to the United States Senate by the Constitution in order to rein in an out-of-control executive. And we should announce we mean what we say and will use our constitutional authorities to force this president to faithfully execute the laws.”
Speaking to reporters later, Cruz hinted that Senate Republicans’ power is limited to pushback during this month’s lame-duck session.
“But in January, Republicans need to follow through on our commitments,” he said. “Even with a Republican House and Senate, the same folks who say, ‘gosh, we can’t do anything now’ in January are going to say, ‘gosh, we don’t have 60 votes in the Senate.’”
