McConnell Unveils Two-Part DHS Plan
Senate GOP leaders announced a dual-track plan that would decouple fiscal 2015 Homeland Security funding from immigration, but it is unclear whether conservatives in the chamber, House Republicans and Senate Democrats will go along with the strategy.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he is prepared to move a “clean” DHS funding bill — without any extraneous immigration language — as soon as Democrats are willing to agree to a vote. He added that the measure would include funding through fiscal 2015, which ends Sept. 30.
The Senate would then separately move on the bill he introduced Monday evening that would block spending on implementation of the president’s November 2014 immigration actions but leave untouched other orders from 2011 and 2012 impacting so-called dreamers and other immigrants.
“I do think we have a responsibility to act,” the Kentucky Republican told reporters Tuesday afternoon.