| |
Speaker Johnson Faces Tough Choices 02/02 06:13
House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying to muscle a federal
funding package to passage and prevent a prolonged partial government shutdown
as debate intensifies over the Trump administration's sweeping immigration
enforcement operations.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying
to muscle a federal funding package to passage and prevent a prolonged partial
government shutdown as debate intensifies over the Trump administration's
sweeping immigration enforcement operations.
Johnson signaled he is relying on help from President Donald Trump to ensure
passage. Trump struck a deal with senators to separate funding for the
Department of Homeland Security from a broader package after public outrage
over two shooting deaths during protests in Minneapolis against Immigration and
Customs Enforcement. Under the plan approved by the Senate, DHS would be funded
temporarily to Feb. 13, setting up a deadline for Congress to try to find
consensus on new restrictions on ICE operations.
"The president is leading this," Johnson, R-La., told "Fox News Sunday."
"It's his play call to do it this way," the speaker said, adding that the
Republican president has "already conceded that he wants to turn down the
volume" on federal immigration sweeps and raids.
A first test will come Monday afternoon during a committee meeting when
Johnson will need his own GOP majority to advance the package after Democrats
refused to provide the votes for speedy consideration. Johnson said he is
hopeful work can wrap up for a full House vote, at least by Tuesday.
Democrats dig in on ICE changes
Democrats are demanding restraints on ICE that go beyond $20 million for
body cameras that already is in the bill and want to require that federal
immigration agents unmask and identify themselves and are pressing for an end
to roving patrols, amid other changes.
"What is clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be
dramatically reformed," said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New
York on ABC's "This Week."
Jeffries said the administration needs to begin negotiations now, not over
the next two weeks, on changes to immigration enforcement operations.
"Masks should come off," he said. "Judicial warrants should absolutely be
required consistent with the Constitution, in our view, before DHS agents or
ICE agents are breaking into the homes of the American people or ripping people
out of their cars."
Republicans make their own demands
At the same time, House Republicans, with some allies in the Senate, are
making their own demands, as they work to support Trump's clamp down on
immigrants in the U.S.
The House Freedom Caucus has insisted on fuller funding for Homeland
Security while certain Republicans are pushing to include other measures,
including the SAVE Act, a longshot Trump priority that would require proof of
citizenship before Americans are eligible to participate in elections and vote.
Johnson said he would be talking to lawmakers over the day ahead to see what
it will take to win over support.
Partial government shutdown drags on
Meanwhile, a number of federal agencies are snared in the funding standoff
as the government went into a partial shutdown over the weekend.
Defense, health, transportation and housing are among those that were given
shutdown guidance by the administration, though many operations are deemed
essential and services are not necessarily interrupted. Workers could go
without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.
Lawmakers from both parties are increasingly concerned the closure will
disrupt the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which they rely on to help
constituents in the states after storms and other disasters.
This is the second time in a matter of months that federal government
operations have been disrupted as Congress is using the annual funding process
as leverage to extract policy changes. Last fall, Democrats sparked what became
the longest federal shutdown in history, 43 days, as they protested the
expiration of health insurance tax breaks.
That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on proposals to extend the
Affordable Care Act tax credits. But with GOP opposition, Democrats were unable
to achieve their goal of keeping the subsidies in place. Insurance premiums
spiked in the new year for millions of people.
Trump wants quick end to shutdown
This time, the administration has signaled its interest in more quickly
resolving the shutdown.
Johnson said he was in the Oval Office last week when Trump, along with
border czar Tom Homan, spoke with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New
York to work out a deal on immigration enforcement changes.
"I think we're on the path to get agreement," Johnson said on NBC's "Meet
the Press."
Body cameras, which are already provided for in the package, and an end to
the roving patrols by immigration agents are areas of potential agreement,
Johnson said.
But he said taking the masks off and putting names on agents' uniforms could
lead to problems for law enforcement officers as they are being targeted by the
protesters and their personal information is posted online.
"I don't think the president would approve it -- and he shouldn't," Johnson
said on Fox.
Democrats, however, said the immigration operations are out of control, and
must end in Minneapolis and other cities.
Growing numbers of lawmakers are calling for Homeland Security Secretary
Kristi Noem to be fired or impeached.
"What is happening in Minnesota right now is a dystopia," said Sen. Chris
Murphy, D-Conn., who led efforts to hold the line for more changes.
"ICE is making this country less safe, not more safe today," Murphy said on
"Fox News Sunday."
"Our focus over the next two weeks has to be reining in a lawless and
immoral immigration agency."
|
|
