The shocking terror attack in Paris on Wednesday left Washington Republicans
tap dancing over their plan to threaten Homeland Security Department funding to
force President Obama to walk back his executive action halting deportations.
With a bill funding the department to expire Feb. 27, Republicans want
to put a provision blocking Obama's immigration action into a DHS spending
measure set for release Friday.
The President has vowed to veto any bill with such language. That
resulting standoff puts the department at risk for shutdown over the spat.
Republican leaders last year promised angry conservative voters they
would seek a showdown over the immigration issue.
But with the Paris shooting reminding voters of the importance of
homeland security programs, GOP leaders are left in a bind — effectively
holding a hostage they’re assuring everyone they won’t harm.
“I don’t think funding for the department is in fact at risk,” House
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a Thursday news conference, even as he
laid out the need to fight Obama on immigration.
“The issue is not about funding the Department of Homeland Security,”
Boehner said. “Members of Congress support funding the department.”
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also insisted that
Republicans have no intention of risking a Homeland Security shutdown.
Some prominent Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), are urging
their leaders to take a strong stance on DHS funding, despite the Paris attack.
Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.), chairman of the House Homeland Security
counterrorism and intelligence subcommittee, said any effort to go after
Obama’s executive order should be “precisely targeted” to avoid the chance of
shutting down important agency programs.
“We can’t put the security of country at risk,” King said in an
interview.
He also said it’s not clear yet how Republicans can credibly take on
Obama on immigration while avoiding any risk to key DHS functions.
“We’ll wait and see what happens,” he said.
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