Posted on 07/09/2014 1:04:20 PM PDT by PoloSec
Republicans will take the political fall if they don't provide emergency funds to address the immigrant crisis at the southern border, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned Wednesday.
A number of conservatives on Capitol Hill are pushing back hard against President Obama's request for almost $4 billion to manage the spike of immigrants — thousands of them unaccompanied minors — that's hit the Texas-Mexico border in recent months.
But Graham, a long-time supporter of an immigration system overhaul, said a failure to provide the funds will exacerbate the crisis while handing Obama and the Democrats a political victory ahead of November's midterm elections.
"If we do that, then we’re going to get blamed for perpetuating the problem," Graham told reporters on Wednesday.
Graham said he needs to take a deeper look at Obama's proposal before weighing in on the $3.7 billion package, adding that he wasn't ready yet to get behind any specific policy changes. But he promoted the idea of Democrats and Republicans coming together to approve new funding and to make policy changes that could streamline the deportation process.
"There will be some Republicans who will probably never give in at all," Graham said, adding that some liberals would likely never approve any policy changes.
On Tuesday, the Obama administration requested $3.7 billion to address the wave of immigrants that's overwhelmed the border, flooding detention centers, clogging immigration courts and swamping local governments attempting to manage the tens of thousands of new arrivals.
Obama's proposal includes $1.8 billion for the Health and Human Services Department to provide "appropriate care" for the migrants; $1.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to beef up its border presence; $300 million for the State Department to help stabilize the Central American countries from which many migrants originate; and $64 million for the Justice Department to hire more immigration judges and asylum lawyers.
Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for a quick approval of the package, but a number of conservative Republicans are balking. Some of those critics are wary that Obama hasn't offset the costs with changes elsewhere in the budget; others oppose spending so much on processing versus deterrent efforts; and still others are questioning the need for Congress to intervene at all.
“I think it’s a charade," Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said Wednesday. "I think the president has set it up to make it look as though the only reason he’s not enforcing the border is that he doesn’t have the money, and that’s not accurate."
Graham emphasized that any policy changes must address the underlying problems, not just treat the symptoms once the immigrants arrive. But for Republicans to do nothing, he cautioned, would be a mistake.
"Money is necessary because it truly is an emergency. Our capacity is being overwhelmed here," Graham said. "But if you don’t address the root cause of the problem, you really accomplish nothing other than throw money at it."
Why exempt Mexico or Canada?
South Carol vageyenaina gave us McLame in O8 and keeps foisting Goober on us all again.
More like South Careless RINO’s. What’s in the water down there? Some ‘conservative’ red state.
Graham is not just an idiot, but a raging idiot.
How will we know if Juan is from Mexico if he says he is from Honduras?
“Maybe the good senator can explain exactly how this additional money will be used? “
It was reported yesterday that over 600 million was slated for wildfire prevention. So if one votes no, he will later be accused of having voted against the ability to control and fight wildfires that the deems will probably start! I say, strip the wildfire money from the request, vote on the request, and immediately put up a new wildfire bill for a separate vote. Don’t fall for the trap!. Vote “NO!” on bozo’s request, and “YES” on the wildfire bill!
Got past his primary challenge...back to being a Democrat.
But he sounded so reasonable and sincere just before the primaries......
Fooled again by a lying Politician.
Here is John (founding member “Senate Gang of 8” ) McCain’s campaign ad where he fooled Arizona
McCain 2010 TV Ad: “Complete The Danged Fence”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0lwusMxiHc
What a joke. He may have approved the message , but he danged well didn’t follow through on it
Hey graham, ya a-hole,
Quit spending MY MONEY
On horse crap.
Send their sorry asses home.
Oh, go away and take your Bette Davis eyes with you.
Obama has done nothing with this kind of extra-budget money but pay off constituents. Graham must know that.
Thanks for sending this fruit back to the Senate, South Carolina. Thanks a lot.
He came to fame as an attack dog in the Clinton impeachment lest we forget where he came from.
DEFEAT GRAHAM ! GO RAVENEL !
I would think that Congress should inspect the Hospitals and holding areas where the children are held. Also talk to the kids.
Manufacture a crisis and then pretend the agenda you were pushing all along is the solution.
FU GrahAMNESTY.
And hidden pugi stick traps....
Not because I want anyone to get hurt.
But, I do want to deter an invasion.
Freakin Tojo knew better than to land on the West Coast.
Our representatives are actively encouraging the invasion.
We need some entrepreneur’s from NRA to set up
lots of target practice shops. Hotels with binoculars on
your pillows instead of candy. Make it a fun theme park...
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