Posted on 11/19/2015 12:26:21 PM PST by xzins
In a stinging rebuke to President Barack Obama by Republicans and Democrats, the House ignored a veto threat Thursday and overwhelmingly approved GOP legislation erecting fresh hurdles for Syrian and Iraqi refugees trying to enter the United States.
Forty-seven Democrats joined all but two Republicans as the House passed the measure by a veto-proof 289-137 margin, a major setback to the lame duck president on an issue —the Islamic State group and the refugees fleeing it — that shows no signs of easing. The vote exceeded the two-thirds majority required to override a veto, and came despite a rushed, early morning visit to the Capitol by senior administration officials in a futile attempt to limit Democratic defections.
Thursday's roll call came six days after a burst of bombings and shootings in Paris killed 129 people, wounded many more and revived post-9/11 jitters in the U.S. and Europe. The attacks have turned the question of admitting people fleeing war-torn Syria and Iraq into a high-stakes political issue in both the United States and Europe, and many congressional Democrats were willing to vote against Obama for fear of angering voters nervous about security at home.
Democrats opposing the GOP bill said the U.S. has no business abandoning its age-old values, including being a safe haven for people fleeing countries racked by violence. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks and controls vast swathes of Syria and Iraq, despite a growing military campaign against them by the U.S. and other nations.
"Defeating terrorism should not mean slamming the door in the faces of those fleeing the terrorists. We might as well take down the Statue of Liberty," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.
Republicans said that in dangerous times, the government must first protect its own.
"It is against the values of our nation and the values of a free society to give terrorists the opening they are looking for" by not tightening entry restrictions, said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
The 47 Democrats who backed the bill, largely moderates and lawmakers facing potentially tough re-elections, were joined by 242 Republicans. Voting no were 135 Democrats and two Republicans, North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones and Iowa Rep. Steve King.
Before Thursday's House vote, the White House sent chief of staff Denis McDonough and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to the Capitol to try winning over Democrats. Democratic aides said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., had a forceful exchange with Johnson, saying that opposition to the bill would be a terrible vote for Democrats that could cost them seats in next year's elections.
With the House's 246 Republicans ready to solidly support the legislation, the administration was eager to keep the final tally for the bill below the two-thirds margin required to override a veto. In a sign of the conflicting political undercurrents confronting Democrats, senior House Democrats said they did not push rank-and-file lawmakers to oppose the bill.
"I've said to them from the start, 'Nobody's asked you to do anything. Do whatever works for you, for your district,'" House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who opposed the legislation, told journalists.
Freshman Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., who faces a tough re-election fight next year, called the Paris attacks "a game changer" and supported the bill, saying, "I cannot sit back and ignore the concerns of my constituents and the American public."
The measure, which in effect would suspend admissions of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, would require the FBI to conduct background checks on people coming to the U.S. from those countries. It would oblige the heads of the FBI and Homeland Security Department and the director of national intelligence to certify to Congress that each refugee "is not a threat to the security of the United States."
On the campaign trail, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. should welcome refugees from the region and bolster America's defenses and intelligence operations.
On the Senate floor, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who hasn't yet scheduled debate on the issue, said Thursday it is time "to press pause" so policy makers could decide whether adequate vetting procedures are in place, calling it "the most responsible thing for the administration to do."
Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he's been disgusted by the comments from Republicans he labeled "fear-mongering and bigotry."
In a statement assuring a veto, the White House said the GOP bill would not improve Americans' security. It said the legislation "would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism, and would undermine our partners in the Middle East and Europe in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis."
The refugee screening process typically takes 18 to 24 months and includes interviews, fingerprinting and database crosschecks by several federal agencies. Syrians undergo additional screening involving data from the U.N. Refugee Agency and interviews by Homeland Security Department officials trained to question Syrians.
The Obama administration wants to increase the 70,000 refugees to be admitted from around the world this year by 10,000, with much of the increase for Syrians.
The White House said that of 2,174 Syrians admitted to the U.S. since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, none has been arrested or deported because of allegations they harbored extremist ambitions.
That’s a good thing to do; I’m going on my memory. It’s been known to be faulty at times. :>)
However, I really think I remember that from some news source yesterday. That it was about preference to Christian refugees.
I want to give preference to real Christian refugees, however, I think an ISIS plant can also pretend to be a Christian refugee the same as they can pretend to be an Islamic refugee.
Only if the CIA, DIA, FBI, and Homeland Security all LIE independent of each other.
I don’t care what the articles says, its whats it says in the bill! If you think these asshats grew a spine and came over to our side, then maybe I’m going nuts!
the question i would have of course is whether this bill effectively defunds obama’s ability execute orders on immigration in regards to this situation.
I guess I am getting Naive. There is no way in hell are these same people are changing there stripes and doing what is right.
This bill does not mention funding at all. I posted the bill at #28 on this thread.
thanks. i’ll take a look when i get time.
Veto proof is the win... Democrats will be more likely to stand with us for the next battle...
There are good ones left in the Army, Navy, AF, Marines, CG, CIA, FBI. Lots of them.
They didn’t all quit just because Obama was elected....thank God!
From what I understand, this is a show vote that is standalone from funding measures. If this were tied to an omnibus bill, O would have a choice: sign it or shut down the govt.
Because it’s separate, of course O will veto even if the senate somehow passes it.
I could be wrong but I believe this is the gop’s standard “failure theater” move (hat tip to Ace of Spades).
With the democrat abstentions, it’s too close for me to call veto proof.
This one is actually important even if it is a stand alone bill.
If ISIS manages to strike big in the US, then many of those democrats who refused to sign on to this bill could be at risk.
Voting no were 135 Democrats and two Republicans, North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones and Iowa Rep. Steve King.
That is a great point. And, I actually mentioned it to my rep and senators’ offices today, that there would be hell to pay if/when an attack comes to our soil and you’ve done nothing.
Btw I’m always a fan of your posts, keep it up.
Regards-
Ted Cruz (who King has endorsed) has a competing bill in the Senate that is much tougher.
i’m going to attempt to read it when i get a chance. it’s posted here.
and to add to our comment. you know that the gope has given cover to dems in this manner many times in the past. no dem can vote for a rep bill unless pelosi signs off on it.
.
Ted Cruz vs. Obama for 30 minutes in a nationally televised debate over the Syrian Refugees
... Two moderators, Stephanopolus and Mark Levin ... just to be fair ...
Ted Cruz wins the GOP nomination and November 2016 election.
That televised event is the equivalent of a $ 750 million ad campaign ...
.
We’ll see. Those provisions look interesting. However, as we’ve seen time and again if there is anything positive and beneficial in a law it will not emerge from capitol hill. They just don’t do that.
I like your “hell to pay” better than my “at risk”.
But thank you for your kind words.
That sure would be interesting. Any hope of ever seeing it?
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