Steve King: Executive Action On Immigration Could Trigger Shutdown

U.S. Rep. Steve King speaks during a hearing to criticize a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of ethanol that must be blended with gasoline in 2014, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, in De... U.S. Rep. Steve King speaks during a hearing to criticize a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of ethanol that must be blended with gasoline in 2014, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. The EPA in November proposed reducing by nearly 3 billion gallons the amount of biofuels required to be blended into gasoline in 2014, prompting outcry by political leaders from both parties who claimed such a move would devastate Iowa's economy and cost thousands of jobs. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) MORE LESS
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Rep. Steve King (R-IA), a vehement opponent of immigration reform, on Wednesday said that an executive action to slow or stop the deportation of undocumented immigrants could result in a government shutdown.

The congressman said that if President Obama signs an executive order, “all bets are off” when it comes to a continuing resolution to fund the federal government, according to the Des Moines Register.

“If the president wields his pen and commits that unconstitutional act to legalize millions, I think that becomes something that is nearly political nuclear,” King told the Westside Conservative Club. “I think the public would be mobilized and galvanized and that changes the dynamic of any continuing resolution and how we might deal with that.”

King said that if Obama follows through on the planned executive action, Republicans will tie government funding to a bill strengthening border security and rolling back deferred deportation for young undocumented immigrants.

The congressman added that Republicans may still use the continuing resolution to push conservative priorities even if Obama doesn’t sign an executive order.

King’s warning echoes a comment made by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to Breitbart on Tuesday. The Senator said that an executive action on immigration could lead the GOP to tie government funding to legislation that counters the executive order.

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