Obstructionists: Republicans Pass Border Bill, Democrats Declare it ‘Dead on Arrival’ in Senate
http://www.tpnn.com/2014/08/01/obstructionists-republicans-pass-border-bill-democrats-declare-it-dead-on-arrival-in-senate/
August 1, 2014 By
Late Friday evening, House Republicans came together to pass a border bill that allows $694 million for border security and for the care of a recent surge of illegal immigrants that have made their way into the U.S.The vote fell largely along party lines with a 223-189 vote. Four Republicans, Reps. Paul Broun (Ga.), Stephen Fincher (Tenn.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Walter Jones (N.C.), voted against the legislation while one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), voted for it.
On Thursday, the prospects looked grim as the House GOP remained divided between moderates and conservatives. However, Friday negotiations yielded a deal that allows for the $649 million allocation, but calls for a later vote that, if approved, would prohibit President Obama from expanding his deferred action program that grants two-year work permits for illegals who arrived in the U.S. prior to 2007.
This is precisely the sticking point for Democrats.
Despite President Obama repeatedly declaring that he is willing to work with Republicans on the issue of immigration reform, he has remained opposed to the legislation that passed late Friday in the Republican-controlled House.
Further, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared the House’s border bill “dead on arrival” in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Though Democrats have repeatedly charged that Republicans are obstructionists, the Democrats have displayed an eagerness to work with Republicans on matters of immigration; however, while Republicans have offered a bill that would address the border crisis in a meaningful way, it is the Senate Democrats claiming that the effort is dead on arrival.
Now, the House GOP has earned bragging rights, having done their job and even delaying the August recess to hammer-out a last minute deal.
“The House is here working,” said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). “I encourage the Senate to come back and do their job.”“It’s dealing with the issue that the American people care about more than any other, and that is stopping the invasion of illegal foreign nationals into our country,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. “And we got to yes.”
Though the deal is likely to die in the Senate, the GOP-led effort allows Republicans to shake-off the “obstructionist” label and point to Democrats as the hold-outs on the funding for which they have been clamoring.
President Obama, however, expressed an eagerness to deal with the crisis unilaterally and stated on Friday,
“I’m going to have to make some tough choices to meet the challenge, with or without Congress.”
He also added: “I’m going to have to act alone, because we don’t have enough resources.”
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