Today, House Republicans met to discuss ways in which the party could counter President Obama’s executive order on immigration. After the meeting, House Speak John Boehner said that he would bring a resolution that would block the president’s executive actions by GOP Rep. Ted Yoho to a vote. Such a vote however is largely seen as a symbolic gesture of Republican disapproval as opposed to offering an alternative to the president’s actions.
During a committee hearing on Capitol Hill this week, Republican lawmakers angrily questioned Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, over the legality of the president’s plan. Johnson was unequivocal and stated that “I’m satisfied as a lawyer myself — and the person who has to come here and defend these actions — that what we have done is well within our existing legal authority.
Thus far, the most conservative arms of the GOP have threatened another government shutdown and to impeach the president. Yet, Republican leadership in the House seems to acknowledge that shutting the government down is not a viable solution and are therefore exploring a range of options. On numerous occasions, the president has reminded lawmakers that the most sustainable and preferred course of action is to address immigration through legislation.
Unless Republicans in the House craft a fair immigration bill, Johnson said that he was “fully comfortable that we have the legal authority to push forward these reforms.” Johnson continued, “Deferred action is an inherent executive branch authority that can and should be used from time to time, and we’ve done so here.”
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