WASHINGTON — US House Republicans emerged from a Wednesday morning caucus hearing defiant, saying the Senate should pass a Homeland Security funding bill before they show their hand.
Multiple GOP members told reporters their leadership presented no new legislative plan for avoiding a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. DHS funding expires at 11:59 p.m. Friday night.
Several said they believe the ball remains in the Senate's court. The House last month passed a $39.7 billion DHS-funding bill, but they tacked on provisions that would defund the White House's recent immigration action. The bill does not have the necessary , which lack 60 votes in the Senate.
Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., said, "we gave a good bill good [to the Senate]. It funds the stuff that we're supposed to do."
"And it stops anything that this president wants to do that's illegal, and the federal courts are on our side," he said, referring to a federal judge's order that blocks President Barack Obama's executive action order to prevent 5 million people from being deported.
Yoho accused congressional Democrats, particularly in the Senate, with "playing politics."
"It's the nature of this town," Yoho said. "They need to get over that."
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has floated the idea of passing a "clean" DHS bill — Hill-speak for a measure free of any immigration riders — then holding a vote on another bill targeting Obama's immigration action. But Senate Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., countered by saying he wants a promise from House Speaker Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, promise that the "clean" bill would get a vote in the House before signing off on the plan.
Reid on Wednesday said Senate Democrats would support a vote on McConnell's "clean" DHS appropriations bill, likely on Thursday, according to The Hill newspaper.
Asked if it is possible the House would take up a "clean" DHS bill, Yoho said: "There's talk about that."
Rep. John Fleming, R-La., told reporters that passing a homeland-funding bill that lacks any immigration provisions would spell political trouble for GOP leaders.
"Our base would be extremely angry," Fleming said. He noted that it was a controversial vote on a government-wide spending bill in December that sparked enough GOP bitterness with House Speaker John Boehner , R-Ohio, that he punted action on DHS funding and immigration until now.
"This is very, very delicate territory for our leadership," Fleming said. "And they know our base out there … that's going to be upset if we deviate. … My staff told me, you know I voted for Speaker Boehner, but my staff told me we got more calls to vote against him than against Obamacare."
For now at least, the often-embattled speaker is standing defiantly with his rank-and-file members.
"I'm waiting for the Senate to act," Boehner told reporters. "We're in a wait-and-see mode.
"The House has passed a bill to fund the department," Boehner said, turning to exit. "It is time for the Senate to act."
Boehner ally Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a senior GOP whip, said the Senate "needs to show us they can do their job." He accused Senate Democrats of "trying to bait us into a fight."
"Their They're fight is amongst themselves in the Senate," Cole said. "If they sort that out, I think we'll be ready."
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., a former Homeland Security Committee chairman, has criticized his GOP colleagues' tactics with the immigration riders. But on Wednesday, his ire was directed at Reid and Senate Democrats.
"I've been very critical of Republicans up until now. But Reid, there's absolutely no basis to that," King said. "He wanted a 'clean' bill, and now he's getting it. He needs to worry about the Senate. We'll take care of the House."
King says he would vote for a bill that excludes the immigration provisions, while Yoho told reporters he only "would vote for the bill we sent over there."
The lower chamber's DHS-funding measure contains billions of dollars for defense sector-supplied Coast Guard hardware, like national security cutter ships, HC-130J aircraft acquisitions and maintenance, H-60 helicopter remanufacturing, and other programs.
"Unreliable funding jeopardizes aircraft, cutter and boat maintenance and operations," the Coast Guard said in a Monday statement.
"Also in the event of a lapse in appropriations, nearly $1 billion in acquisition and maintenance contracts will continue to be deferred or otherwise disrupted — reducing the long-term operational availability and effectiveness of the Coast Guard," the service said. "These delays erode the security of our maritime borders."
King said the message from constituents, many who have personal ties to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, is simple: "Shut up and do it."
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King said it would be "insane" to let DHS shut down, saying recent threats to American malls show "the world is full of crazy people."
Asked if he is concerned about a Homeland Security Department shutdown, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, replied: "Sure." He said he has yet to decide whether he could vote for a "clean" funding measure.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m.
email: jbennett@defensenews.com
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