Posted on 01/20/2018 12:11:29 PM PST by Kaslin
President Donald J. Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) lambasted Democrats Saturday morning for their refusal to compromise on illegal immigration and forcing a government shutdown late Friday night. The Senate failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to continue funding the government after Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), refused to support any spending bill that did not also address the problem of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program.
DACA was an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in 2012 that granted protections for illegal immigrants brought into the country as children. Roughly 800,000 illegal immigrants depend upon these protections to avoid deportation. The executive order, long thought to be unconstitutional, was rescinded in September 2017 by President Trump. Instead, President Trump sought to limit executive overreach and gave Congress an ultimatum of six months to form an immigration reform bill that he could sign that would also address DACA recipients.
However, with the six month deadline approaching, Democrats wanted to include DACA provisions in this week's funding bill, which would keep the government open until a larger solution could be reached. That original spending bill, crafted mostly by the GOP, included a six year extension for the Children's Health Insurance program, which millions of children depend upon for healthcare. The GOP wanted immigration reform to have its own bill and not be lumped in with this funding bill. GOP leadership maintains that DACA is entirely irrelevant to the funding of the government. Yet, Democrats refused to vote for the bill and tried to force amnesty before a reasonable compromise could be reached.
After the 12:00 am deadline passed Saturday morning, Sen. Mitch McConnell harshly criticized Sen. Chuck Schumer for using illegal immigration as a wedge to divide and shutdown the government. McConnell tweeted, “#Senate Democrats now say that illegal immigration should take priority over keeping the government open at all. Nothing for opioid treatment centers, #Veterans, or the families of fallen soldiers. Nothing for the nearly 9,000,000 American children on #CHIP.”
Earlier in the day, McConnell gave remarks from the Senate floor saying, “This vote should be a ‘no-brainer.’ And it would be – except that the Democratic Leader has convinced his members to filibuster any funding bill that doesn’t include legislation they are demanding for people who came to the United States illegally. What has been shoehorned into this discussion is an insistence that we deal with an illegal immigration issue.”
The Senate leader then added, “He’s insisted that he won’t support any legislation at all for the American people – no matter how noncontroversial or how bipartisan – unless we pass a bill on illegal immigration first.”
“If that means shutting down funding for veterans, military families, opioid treatment centers, and even federal grants to his home state of New York — so be it. If it means throwing a wrench into the gears of the U.S. economy, just as Americans are starting to feel the benefits of historic tax reform – so be it. If it means failing to renew the children’s health program which the House-passed bill funded for a full six years — apparently that’s just fine with those on the other side.”
President Trump poked fun at the Democrats, saying the shutdown was their way of giving him a one year anniversary gift for first year in office.
This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
He then echoed GOP leaderships remarks that the Democrats were holding the government "hostage" over their concern for illegal immigration.
Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
It is unclear how long this shutdown will last. Senate leaders are expected to meet Saturday to try and find a solution.
They need 51. Nuke it.
Why can’t the Senate Parliamentarian simply rule that CACA/illegals are not germane to the budget bill and therefore out of order?
Keep it up. Every hour. Shut down as an extortionate tool needs to be destroyed. These bastards need to be denounced every hour of the day and night until we crush them
Yo, Turtle....
You are in charge of the Senate.
If you can’t do the job, step aside and let someone in who can do it.
You have let McCain, Linda and Flake run right over you.
In the private sector, you would have been fired years ago.
Extortion! Plain and simple. Democrats are extortionist.
Thanks Kaslin. Schumer Shutdown ping. The Gang of Six will still need a comeuppance, unless they show up as supplicants at 1600.
The Germans got nothin to do with it.
Can I ask a really stupid question? Might be worth a Trump tweet?
Whenever there is a government shutdown, the MILITARY is affected. Why? Isn’t the defense and protection our our country one of the ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT?
Seriously, given the state of the world today, how can our military be considered...non-essential and who decides that cr*p.
Second, how dare the democrats shutdown the government over ILLEGAL immigration?! Are not We the Citizens far more important to the functioning of this nation?
Didn’t the Germans bomb Pearl?
Did that stop us?
Are not We the Citizens far more important to the functioning of this nation?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DACA ..... the mask has been pulled off the Dems & the real meaning exposed: Democrats Against Citizens of America.
I think the senate rules need to be changed at the beginning of a new congress — every 2 years. That said, the senate parliamentarian could declare the DACA provisions to be “not germane” thereby removing them from the bill. Either that or McConnell should start looking for Schumer’s earmarks and start killing them one-by-one until he screams ‘uncle’.
The Democrats seem to have picked the wrong hill to die upon. This after having crossed a bridge too far, and burned it behind themselves.
The liberal Democrats are cornered without a route to retreat. Unfortunately, their Republican “colleagues” will pass a number of life rafts out to them so they may slip back across the water to firmer ground.
Separate the United States into the “Red zone” and the “Blue zones”. This would be established irrespective of state lines, but on Congressional districts, those represented by the “red” Republican representatives, and those who send “blue” Democrats. The “red” zone would be nearly contiguous, while the “blue” zones would be fractured into many “islands” surrounded on all sides by the “red” zone. The “red” zone would then caucus separately from the “blue” zones, and govern accordingly.
This country has been governed by “rump government” before.
“”included a six year extension for the Children’s Health Insurance program, which millions of children depend upon for healthcare””
I still don’t understand why this is still in force after ACA was passed. Why weren’t all these “children” covered under Obamacare?
That is a winning strategy!
Plans for Monday morning vote? This has today’s date so I’m assuming that’s accurate...
“”http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Lawmakers-Point-Fingers-With-No-Plan-in-Sight-12512298.php”";
Schumer filibustered to keep it from coming to the actual vote - needed 60 votes to get it to the floor for the simple majority vote...
Sent first one w/o grasping the “nuke it” - you are correct - gonna have more coffee then post...
Why is this 60 vote rule still in effect?
The Turd stops at McTurtle’s desk. He is so disgusting.
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