WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked consideration of a House-passed homeland security spending bill, objecting to immigration provisions.
After Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., brought up a procedural measure to move to a $39.7 billion Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill, Democrats closed ranks. The final vote on the motion was 51-48, well shy of the 60 needed for the chamber to move to the bill.
The House-approved bill would covers the agency for the remainder of fiscal 2015. It includes billions for equipmentthings built by US defense firms, like Coast Guard ships and aircraft.
McConnell now must find a way to avoid a DHS shutdown on Feb. 27 and appease conservative members of his caucus who want to chip away at President Barack Obama's recent immigration action.
He hinted that he would try to bring up the House measure again, possibly with changes.
"The way to change a bill is to get on a bill and offer amendments," McConnell told reporters after his party huddled over lunch. "So I think it's a rather honestly absurd position to say, 'we object to a bill, but don't want to debate the bill or change the bill.' I'm perplexed."
The majority leader has dodged questions about whether he eventually will push a "clean" DHS bill — one without the House's immigration provisions — through the chamber.
Email: jbennett@defensenews.com
Twitter:@bennettjohnt
