Rep. Peter King, New York Republican, sounded off on what he called an “absolutely irresponsible” wing within the House GOP conference that has “no concept of reality” after GOP leaders had to scramble last week following the defeat of a short-term extension of homeland security funding.
“For these people to be threatening to defund the Department of Homeland Security at a time when our threat streams have never been greater at any time since 9/11, it’s absolutely irresponsible,” Mr. King, one of the party’s more hawkish voices, said on ABC’s “This Week.”
After conservative and Democratic opposition sunk a three-week extension in the House, Congress approved a one-week extension late Friday, buying leaders another week to craft a longer-term plan.
He said he’s as opposed to President Obama’s immigration actions as they are, but he called for a “clean” bill without language blocking the actions to come up for a vote. Other Republicans have said there is no deal on such a bill.
“I said the other night, when I was at the Republican meeting, that they all right self-righteous and delusional. And they just don’t realize what’s happening,” Mr. King said. “We’re talking about maybe 40 or 50 people at most, out of a caucus of 247, out of a Congress of 435.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.