How is the GOP reacting to the possibility of Obama acting on immigration on his own? Republicans are already mobilizing against executive action on immigration — even before the Obama administration announces any new changes. And the presidents delay until after the elections hasnt calmed them down at all. When the administration initially announced its Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012, there wasnt much Republican opposition. As a bigger immigration-relief program has become a possibility, though, Republicans have turned against DACA as a way to signal their opposition to Obama taking another executive action. In August, the House voted not only to end the DACA program for new applicants, but to strip protection from immigrants who currently have DACA status. And in September, the Senate narrowly defeated n amendment to a continuing resolution to fund the government that would have ended the DACA program (but would have only stripped work permits, not deportation protection, from current DACA recipients). Its not clear how much effort the GOP will go to to stop further administrative action from happening, however. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy wants to use the next two years to prove (Republicans) could govern, to help the party recapture the presidency in 2016 — which pundits have interpreted as meaning he wont engage in brinksmanship with the administration. And incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised after the election that Republicans wouldnt be shutting down the government or engaging in brinksmanship on the debt ceiling — for any issue. But Republican National Committee chair Reince Preibus promised a group of Republican donors in late October that if Obama takes executive action on immigration, We will do everything we can to make sure it doesnt happen: Defunding, going to court, injunction. You name it. [...] We cant allow it to happen and we wont let it happen. Its likely that the only way to keep Priebus promise is to engage in the kind of legislative brinkmanship — like threats to defund the government — that Republican leaders in Congress are trying to avoid. That fight is likely to erupt in December 2014 — before Obama even takes action. Republican leadership wants to pass a bill to fund the government through October 2015. But conservatives led by Ted Cruz only want to fund government through February or so, and then use any future funding as leverage to stop Obamas amnesty. Rep. Steve King (R-IA), a longtime supporter of maximizing deportations of unauthorized immigrants, says that hell call for impeachment hearings in the House if Obama makes a big move. One things for sure, though — if Republicans were planning to push an immigration reform bill in 2015, theyre not going to do it if Obama takes executive action. As McCarthy says, that would stop everything.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:44:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015