Again: Senate Democrats Filibuster DHS Funding to Protect Obama's Amnesty

Townhall.com ^ | 2/24/2015 | Guy Benson

[Servant of the Cross]

For weeks, Harry Reid and his Senate Democratic minority -- with the explicit blessing of the White House -- have been blocking all debate on a House-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The House legislation provides full appropriations for DHS, with the small exception of stripping out funds targeted for the implementation President Obama's unpopular and illegal (according to both a federal judge and Obama himself) executive amnesty fiat. Democrats in the upper chamber had already filibustered three attempts to take up, discuss, or amend the House's bill. Last night witnessed round four. Kudos to CNN for its accurate headline -- "Senate Dems Block Homeland Security Funding Bill Again:"

The Republican-led Senate voted Monday -- for the fourth time in as many weeks -- to begin debate on a stalled funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which faces a Friday deadline. But like the three votes before it, Senate Democrats blocked taking up the bill that passed the GOP-controlled House because it contains what they consider poison pills -- provisions that would block President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration. On a measure that needed 60 vote to succeed, it failed with 47 voting in support to 46 against. With only four days before DHS funding ends -- when large parts of the agency will be shuttered or employees will be forced to work without pay -- the two sides are at a stalemate and there are no known serious negotiations involving congressional leaders or the White House to bridge differences. "It's time to allow this Homeland Security funding legislation to come to the floor," a visibly frustrated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said before the vote." Democrats say they want to amend DHS funding legislation. But then they keep voting to block their own amendments. It just doesn't' make any sense."

Democrats say they're objecting to discussing the bill because it contains "poison pills." Debates and amendments could alter or eliminate some of the items they object to, but they won't even allow that debate to begin. Having lost the most recent election in historic fashion, they've adopted an our-way-or-shutdown approach. It's very simple: Obama and Reid are forcing a (very partial) DHS shutdown in order to protect the president's unilateral action that provides millions of illegal immigrant adults legal status, legal work papers, and in many cases, increased access to generous tax benefits. They are willing to precipitate a DHS shutdown to uphold a power grab that's been struck down in federal court. And they have the gall to complain about the looming DHS shutdown as if it's Republicans' fault:

Here's a crazy idea -- and I'm just spitballing here: How about voting to proceed to a debate on a DHS funding bill, rather than repeatedly filibustering it? This shouldn't be much of a problem, given that numerous Senate Democrats have raised concerns about the Constitutional and policy implication's of Obama's power grab. Senate Republicans produced a document recapping statements from eight members of Harry Reid's caucus expressing their reservations about the very policy they're now unanimously filibustering to protect. With all due respect to hawkish Republicans who are skittish about DHS funding, this is a fight worth having. It's about the Constitutional principle of separation of powers, and it's about sending a message to Democrats about future spending battles. When Republicans were the ones blocking legislation, it was easier for Democrats and the media to paint them as the "party of no." The dynamic has changed, thanks to voters. A united Republican front and message discipline can win the day. This is a decent start:

@RepBillFlores
The “Obstructionist 8”: Blocking DHS funding debate despite being
against the president’s unlawful amnesty plan.
3:14 PM - 23 Feb 2015

I'll leave you with the latest spin from the administration, which is on a credibility-destroying roll this week:

videos at link ....

[Servant of the Cross]

[stephenjohnbanker]

For Democrats, 10 million NEW votes is worth quite an effort.

The Establishment Republicans have been well paid to help them too.

[BenLurkin]

The Democrat Party is NOT on the side of America.

Whose side are they on?

[molson209]

Harry The Reid using mind control telling you , It’s the GOP’s fault

[kennedy]

It is time for McConnell to invoke the Reid Rule and unilaterally change the rules to prohibit filibusters.

[Democrat_media]

Obama and the democrat party are at war against the American people. The media who are also democrats hide this and all the crimes Obama has perpetrated against America.

Democrats are importing an invading army of illegal voters to turn the USA into a socialist state where all our property of us Americans is taken away , all our rights and our freedom. ,

The media is the main problem , then Obama then the democrat party but they are all the democrat party. They want a socialist utopia . we who love freedom , the free market and to live and let live are their enemy they must stop up us, neutralize us ,take away our freedom , control us, make slaves of us so that their socialist utopia can become a reality.

democrats are all part of rabid marxist/socialist cult. their goal is communism/socialism/marxism. every thing these people and the media do is to achieve this goal where all property and money will be controlled by the government and them.

when will we realize we are at war with a marxist enemy called the democrat party. democrats, liberals whatever these cretins call themselves well they are just communists : they are not Americans as they don’t believe in freedom but collectivism. why don’t we Americans who love freedom, want a limited government and to be left alone by the government realize this?

Venezuela is in collapse. this is what these cretins called democrats want to turn the USA into the socialist hell hole that Venezuela is now. they turned California socialist by importing millions of immigrants and they are doing the same to the rest of the country. California used to be conservative as they elected Ronald Reagan as governor:import millions of Mexicans and other 3rd world immigrants and you have what california is now

[LegendHasIt]

Too bad McConnell crippled himself by reversing Reid's rule about spending bills only needing 51%.(Although the dems only needed one more defector, since McCain and Rubio already signaled their intent to vote with the dems on this bill.)

Of course McConnell didn't see it as crippling the Repubes, but as giving the Repubes cover for going along with 0bama on things that the GOP Elites want; So he could say to the TEA Party types: "Well we tried, just didn't have the votes."

[chris37]

The truth of the matter is that they can’t even get 51 votes, and the GOP is hiding behind the democrats.

[jospehm20]

Sure glad I voted Republican last year!

[molson209]

Is there a Terrorist attack waiting for DHS shut down ?

[NTHockey]

No, he’s proposing another cave-in, with Ms. Graham leading the way. They plan to strip the funding part away from the immigration part, pass the funding and take up the immigration “at a later date”.

Like the 12th of Never.

[The Antiyuppie]

My favorite picture of Senator Reid.

But he needs more “explaining”, apparently.

[falcon99]

Isn’t it interesting how the Democrats control the Senate whether or not they have the majority. That says so much about the spineless GOP senators and especially their leadership. What are we to really believe, that the GOP senators are really this spineless and incompetent or that in truth they agree with the Democrats and their “objections” are nothing but show.

[chris37]

Ugh! Me too ;/

[factoryrat]

Defund amnesty, defund the DHS, and then have the democrats AND republicans explain to the former DHS employees how imported voters and cheap imported mexican labor trumps national security and sovereignty.

[chris37]

They are not spineless and incompetent as evidenced by the fact that the government agenda ALWAYS moves forward.

What they are is liars.

[Qiviut]

Abolish the Filibuster - by Charles Krauthammer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/abolish-the-filibuster/2015/02/19/ca7d30d2-b86b-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_story.html

[iowacornman]

This is a RINO alert. McConnell is going to do this 1. He will breakout a separate bill to defund illegal unconstitutional amnesty. It may or may not pass — it doesn't matter.
2. He will allow a second vote on a “clean” ( or “Dirty’) HSA funding bill that outrageously INCLUDES FUNDING OF AMNESTY!! It will pass!!! ( with unanimous DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT!!)
You cant believe this treason.
Then it will go to conference and it will go back to the House pregnant with illgal Amnesty!!Boehner will cave and allow a vote. It will be supported by all Democrats and pass with 30 republicrat traitor votes.
To stop this we must cut loose our phones, emails faxes and in office visits to save this nation.
The Irony is that we win the argument of who shut down HSA!! We passed 96% of HSA except for unconstitutional usurpation by the president on Amnesty, The Senate Democrats would not allow DEBATE!! They killed it but no— McConnell capitulates. !!
Do everything you can to stop this.

[manc]

We finally get the majority and still they run things.

I see the media is again blaming republicans instead of calling out why their messiah has ignored the immigration law and actually made a new law.

[manc]

Just said the same. We have the majority and the Dems still run things.

This is pathetic. They run away from Rudy when he stated facts, they won’t call out this pathetic corrupt media.

Spineless is an understatement and at least the left when they want something stick together while never caving in unlike our side which is pathetic.