Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans in the House may have sent the Senate a measure that yanks President Obama’s immigration orders — but it’s just not going to happen because Democrats won’t join the effort.
The Hill reported that an unnamed border-state Republican agreed and said: “You look at the hand you’re dealt. There are not 60 Republicans so you have to convince six Democrats to move with them. Pigs will fly out of my rear end before that happens.”
The bill in question is the one that funds Homeland Security and repeals Mr. Obama’s order to keep millions of illegals from being deported. All 54 Republicans in the Senate would have to support that measure — which is a hard sell in itself. Another six Democrats at minimum would have to sign off on it, too — and Mr. McConnell said that’s just not going to happen, The Hill reported.
Sen. John Cornyn said the bill could be changed with an amendment, but that senators would need to move quickly, given the Department of Homeland Security could shut down on Feb. 27 if its funding isn’t renewed, The Hill reported. Republicans in both the House and Senate don’t want that to happen.
Publicly, GOPers still say they’ll try to pass the House version.”
“We’re going to try to pass it. If we’re unable to do that, we’ll see what happens,” Mr. McConnell said, The Hill reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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