Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas today on the Senate floor called on Senate Democrats to allow debate on the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. Excerpts of his remarks are below:
If the President wants Congress to pass a Department of Homeland Security appropriation bill then he needs to talk to our friends in the minority here in the Senate who just blocked consideration of a $40 billion Department of Homeland Security funding bill."
So why in the world is it that Senate Democrats wont even allow this particular legislation to be debated and amended? Well one of the reasons probably is that they dont want to revisit the Presidents own repeated assertions 22 different times when he said he didnt believe he had the legal authority to issue the executive action that he issued in November of 2014."
Sadly the President of the United States has made clear that his Administration is willing to put people who played by the rules and who applied for immigration and a legal status as an American citizen hes put them -- kicked them to the back of the line."
So thats one two three four five six seven eight - eight members of the minority party who said theyre more than a little uncomfortable about what the Presidents done. Yet today the members of the minority party have voted in lock step to deny a debate any opportunity to discuss how do we fund the Department of Homeland Security how do we rein in a reckless President whos overreached his constitutional authority."
So any way you look at it the Senate ought to at least have a debate on this legislation."
BACKGROUND:
SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV):I wish he wouldnt do it." (Senate Democrats Balk at Obamas Unilateral Immigration Approach"
Reuters 11/20/14)
SEN. CLAIRE McCASKILL (D-MO): I have to be honest how this is coming about makes me uncomfortable I think it probably makes most Missourians uncomfortable. (Senate Democrats Balk at Obamas Unilateral Immigration Approach"
Reuters 11/20/14)
SEN. JOE DONNELLY (D-IN): I am as frustrated as anyone that Congress is not doing its job but
the president shouldnt make such significant policy changes on his own."
(
Press Release 11/20/14)
SEN. HEIDI HEITKAMP (D-ND): Im disappointed the president decided to use executive action at this time on this issue as
it could poison any hope of compromise or bipartisanship in the new Senate before it has even started." (Obama Fails To Convince Some Dems on Immigration"
Politico 11/20/14)
SEN. AL FRANKEN (D-MN): I have concerns about executive action." (More Senate Democrats Urge Obama to Delay Immigration Order"
Politico 9/5/14)
SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME): And I also frankly am concerned about the constitutional separation of powers…The Framers knew what they were doing and it doesnt say if the president gets frustrated and Congress doesnt act he gets to do you know what he thinks is important for the country." (Sen. Angus King: Executive Action on Immigration Could Backfire"
NPR 11/19/14)
SEN. JON TESTER (D-MT): Asked whether he would prefer the President not do it by executive authority Tester replied
I would prefer that Congress act yes." (Sen. Joe Manchin Urges Obama to Hold Off on Immigration Orders"
CNN 11/19/14)
SEN. TOM CARPER (D-DE): If I were the president
what Id say to the Congress House Senate Democrat or Republican
Im going to give you a little bit of time and in the new Congress expect you to do something."
(Dems Press Obama to Wait on Immigration"
The Hill 11/20/14)
