The Republican-led House passed a bill on Thursday to block President Barack Obama’s sweeping executive actions on immigration.
It passed on a mostly party-line vote of 219 to 197.
Three Democrats voted yes: Reps. John Barrow (GA), Mike McIntyre (NC) and Collin Peterson (MN). Seven Republicans voted no: Reps. Mike Coffman (CO), Jeff Denham (CA), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), Louie Gohmert (TX), Ilena Ros-Lehtinen (FL), Marlin Stutzman (IN) and David Valadao (CA). Three Republicans voted present: Reps. Paul Gosar (AZ), Steve King (IA) and Raul Labrador (ID).
The bill is a carrot for conservatives upset about Obama’s unilateral move to temporarily shield more than 4 million immigrants from deportation. It comes ahead of a planned vote next week to keep the federal government funded and avert a shutdown on Dec. 11 when money is scheduled to run out.
The bill, offered by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), “would prohibit the executive branch from exempting or deferring from removal certain categories of aliens considered to be unlawfully present in the United States,” according to the Congressional Budget Office.
It prohibits requests for “deferred action” on or after Nov. 20, 2014, which means undocumented youth who have been shielded under the 2012 Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program would not be able to renew their work permits.
The bill allows for some exceptions, including for humanitarian concerns.
The House vote is ultimately symbolic because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he won’t bring up the bill in the upper chamber. The White House has threatened to veto it either way.
This article has been updated to include the names of lawmakers who defected.
Gohmert votes against because it’s not a bill of impeachment. And three blue dogs still claiming to be Dems. More meaningful legislation from the do nothing house.
Why the fuck is this not the top story and instead is way down the page while we’ve got a top 3 of
Why? This is rather huge in that the GOP/Teatrolls have confused the noose for a bola tie yet again and any liberal/progressive worth a fart should be doing everything possible to draw attention to it and what the consequences of such legislation would be. INFORM the Hispanic and other immigrant communities so they can see who is trying to fuck them with the proverbial broomstick.
Mainly because no one cares about this farce of a bill besides the brain dead GOP base.
Getting a few last symbolic votes in before they start having to do the real deal.
Why don’t we vote to defund the republican party?