Posted on June 4, 2015

House GOP Votes to Block Obama Administration from Spending Money on Immigration Lawsuit

Erica Werner, US News, June 3, 2015

House Republicans voted Wednesday to block the Obama administration from spending any money to defend against a lawsuit over the president’s immigration policies.

The 222-204 vote came on an amendment by leading immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King of Iowa to a spending bill for the Commerce and Justice Departments.

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More than two dozen states argued that Obama’s executive action was unconstitutional.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear arguments next month in the lawsuit. King’s amendment would block the administration from spending any money to defend against it.

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By voice vote, the House adopted an amendment that would block spending for trade deals that add visas.

The House also voted 227-198 for an amendment that would block certain federal funds to localities that refuse to report names to federal immigration authorities. That’s become an issue in recent months as localities refused to participate in a federal program that turns over the names of people picked up for crimes to federal immigration authorities.

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The spending bill has already drawn a veto threat from the White House over cuts in domestic programs, and the addition of the immigration measures will only harden the administration opposition.