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House GOP hopes to pass stopgap DHS funding before midnight shutdown Senate passes Homeland Security bill as House GOP works on stopgap measure
(35 minutes later)
House Republicans are hoping to pass a stopgap funding bill Friday that would avert a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security at midnight, even as they face resistance from House Democrats. House Republicans are hoping to pass a stopgap funding bill Friday that would avert a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security at midnight, as House Democratic leaders acknowledged their resistance probably wouldn’t be enough to sink it.
The plan, which the leaders pitched to rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door meeting Thursday, was the first sign Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) was willing to pass a new bill after passing another one weeks ago that takes aim at President Obama’s executive actions on immigration and has been blocked in the Senate. The plan, which the GOP leaders pitched to rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door meeting Thursday, was the first sign Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) was willing to pass a new bill after passing another one weeks ago th t takes aim at President Obama’s executive actions on immigration and has been blocked in the Senate.
The new measure would fund DHS for three more weeks. If approved, it would continue a standoff between the House and the Senate over longer-term DHS funding. Separately, the Senate was moving toward a final vote Friday on a bill that would fund the agency through September and would not go after Obama’s immigration directives. The new measure would fund DHS for three more weeks. If approved, it would continue a standoff between the House and the Senate over longer-term DHS funding. Separately, the Senate passed a bill that would fund the agency through September and would not go after Obama’s immigration directives.
[DHS shutdown threat dimming as House GOP proposes stopgap plan][DHS shutdown threat dimming as House GOP proposes stopgap plan]
Up against a looming deadline, Boehner’s plan might ultimately win support from lawmakers in both parties and both chambers. But House Democratic resistance complicated its path. Up against a looming deadline, Boehner’s plan could win support from lawmakers in both parties and both chambers. Democratic resistance has complicated its path, but on Friday morning, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) conceded that “Republicans probably have the votes” to pass a short term funding bill keeping the department open through March 20.
House Democratic leaders huddled with rank-and-file members Friday morning, hours after announcing they would encourage the caucus to oppose the bill. Leaving the meeting, some expressed sharp opposition to the measure. But she called the short term funding measure a “staggering failure of leadership that will prolong this manufactured crisis of theirs and endanger the security of the American people.”
“This is a gimmick. This is a waste of time,” said Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “We need a one-year bill and that’s it.” Pelosi said that should the short term measure pass, Democrats would oppose negotiating a compromise bill with the Senate, saying there was nothing to compromise on. Her comments echoed the position of Senate Democratic leaders.
Pelosi’s comments came after House Democratic leaders huddled with rank-and-file members Friday morning, hours after announcing they would encourage the caucus to oppose the bill. Leaving the meeting, some expressed sharp opposition to the measure.
“This is a gimmick. This is a waste of time,” said Rep. Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “We need a one-year bill and that’s it.”
Rep. Gene Green, a moderate Texas Democrat, said he’s a no “right now.”Rep. Gene Green, a moderate Texas Democrat, said he’s a no “right now.”
Senate Democratic aides acknowledged that the bill will probably pass their chamber if it clears the House. Senate Democratic aides acknowledged that the bill would probably pass their chamber if it clears the House. The Senate’s longer-term funding bill passed on a 68-31 vote. That bill, which Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) put forward after it became clear the House bill would not advance in his chamber, has been panned by House conservatives bent on battling Obama on immigration.
As they left Thursday’s House GOP meeting, Republican members said their leadership presented its plan as a way to allow time for the House and Senate to try to go to conference on their competing bills, even as Senate Democratic leaders have rejected the idea of a conference committee.As they left Thursday’s House GOP meeting, Republican members said their leadership presented its plan as a way to allow time for the House and Senate to try to go to conference on their competing bills, even as Senate Democratic leaders have rejected the idea of a conference committee.
Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), a foe of Boehner, said that he would not support the plan but that of those who spoke, a “majority, probably, are inclined to support it.”Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), a foe of Boehner, said that he would not support the plan but that of those who spoke, a “majority, probably, are inclined to support it.”
Rep. Richard B. Nugent (R-Fla.), who has also clashed with Boehner, said he would support the proposal.Rep. Richard B. Nugent (R-Fla.), who has also clashed with Boehner, said he would support the proposal.
“I think the speaker has laid out a plan. Obviously, he can’t control what the Senate does,” Nugent said.“I think the speaker has laid out a plan. Obviously, he can’t control what the Senate does,” Nugent said.
[Obama staying out of the GOP crossfire in shutdown fight][Obama staying out of the GOP crossfire in shutdown fight]
The Senate bill, which Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) put forward after it became clear the House bill would not advance in his chamber, has been panned by House conservatives bent on battling Obama on immigration. McConnell moved forward Friday morning to consideration of a standalone measure that would undo Obama’s 2014 actions, including stemming the deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. That bill is an effort to assuage conservatives in both chambers.
Once the Senate votes on that bill, McConnell plans to move to consideration of a standalone measure that would undo Obama’s 2014 actions, including stemming the deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. That bill is an effort to assuage conservatives in both chambers.
“Remember: President Obama said more than 20 times he couldn’t take those kinds of actions. He even referred to overreach like that as ‘ignoring the law,’ ” McConnell said on the Senate floor Friday morning.“Remember: President Obama said more than 20 times he couldn’t take those kinds of actions. He even referred to overreach like that as ‘ignoring the law,’ ” McConnell said on the Senate floor Friday morning.
Democrats have pointed to dangers the United States is confronting as the DHS debate is unfolding. They have cited the threat of the Islamic State, the mass shooting at a French satirical newspaper and concerns about disaster preparedness.Democrats have pointed to dangers the United States is confronting as the DHS debate is unfolding. They have cited the threat of the Islamic State, the mass shooting at a French satirical newspaper and concerns about disaster preparedness.
At least one member has said he would forgo pay during a DHS shutdown, in solidarity with nonessential employees facing the prospect of a furlough.At least one member has said he would forgo pay during a DHS shutdown, in solidarity with nonessential employees facing the prospect of a furlough.
“As long as the employees of the Department of Homeland Security including Border Patrol, Coast Guard and TSA are working while not receiving paychecks, I will ask that my paycheck be withheld,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said in a Thursday statement.“As long as the employees of the Department of Homeland Security including Border Patrol, Coast Guard and TSA are working while not receiving paychecks, I will ask that my paycheck be withheld,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said in a Thursday statement.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), a conservative critic of GOP leadership, said Thursday that Boehner is handling the DHS fight “as best as can be expected.” But in a sign of lingering House-Senate tension, Huelskamp lashed out at McConnell.Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), a conservative critic of GOP leadership, said Thursday that Boehner is handling the DHS fight “as best as can be expected.” But in a sign of lingering House-Senate tension, Huelskamp lashed out at McConnell.
“Harry Reid’s still in charge. There are going to be millions of folks that helped change the Senate from Democrat to Republican [who] are going to be disappointed in Senator McConnell,” he said.“Harry Reid’s still in charge. There are going to be millions of folks that helped change the Senate from Democrat to Republican [who] are going to be disappointed in Senator McConnell,” he said.
Paul Kane contributed to this story.Paul Kane contributed to this story.