The sincerity of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Catholic faith came into question Thursday as lawmakers attempted to negotiate a legislative compromise regarding the children of illegal immigrants, or “Dreamers.”
Rep. Linda Sanchez told a group of reporters that Mr. Ryan seemingly uses his Catholicism as a shield when talking about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Her comments came against a political backdrop in which the Republican leader is also trying to secure a budget deal that will prevent a government shutdown Friday.
“As much as he loves to play the Catholic card and say that he really feels for these Dreamers and he wants people to believe he’s empathetic — schedule the vote,” the California Democrat said, the Washington Examiner reported. “Man up. Put your money where your mouth is. Be apart of the solution not apart of the problem.”
The fifth-ranking House Democrat also called the Wisconsin Republican the “sole impediment” to passing a new version of DACA, which would affect roughly 800,000 young people.
Mr. Ryan has accused Democrats of playing “partisan games” with DACA — the program expires in March — and using national defense as a “bargaining chip.”
“Right now, the defense budget is being held hostage for DACA, which is not a deadline that expires tomorrow,” Mr. Ryan said Thursday.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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