The republican controlled U.S. House passed a $694 million bill for additional funding to deal with the influx of immigrants from Central America. That was less than the $3.7 billion request from the President and the $2.7 billion proposed in the Senate that was blocked by the republican's in that chamber. The first bill the House took up was pulled from the floor because of the republicans own opposition to passage.
Washington Post columnist Chris Cillizza wrote Scalise had the worst week in Washington for having the first major bill he was in charge of fail. Scalise tried to put his best face on with self serving comments that has become the trademark of he and his party. The legislation that finally passed will go no where and Scalise knows it. He also knows it does not address the problem and is just another piece of proof how the republican party continues to oppose anything the President proposes.
Scalise is still trying to sell the notion that the immigrants from Central America means the border need to be secure. But as pointed out the border is more secure under the Obama administration with more Border Patrol Agents than any time in the past 30 years. It is also a fact that the immigrants from Central America are turning themselves in at the border to the Border Patrol and are entering mainly thru one check point along the border in the Rio Grande area.
Contrary to what Scalise and his party says, the President did not ask for a blank check to handle the problem, he asked for $3.7 billion. The democrats in the Senate were willing to scale that back to $2.7 billion but republicans in that chamber blocked the vote. The $694 million passed by the house confirms what the President said, "The House wanted to check off any block so they could go home."
The bill the House passed also cancells the 2008 legislation which provides for an orderly way to process immigrants from Central America. President George W. Bush signed that bill because he thought it was a good bill and did not use his veto power. Scalise after being elected Whip of the U.S. House said he and his party were ready to work with the President. That he did not do with his very first piece of legislation. In a previous commentary I said Sincerity was always subject to proof. Well, so far nothing has changed.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
