US Homeland Security chief: Budget impasse could harm states

[webfact]

Homeland Security chief: Budget impasse could harm states
By STEPHEN BRAUN and KEN THOMAS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is warning states that the possible shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security would harm the nation's ability to counter the extremist appeal of the Islamic State group within the U.S. and help communities struggling with an onslaught of winter snowstorms.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said if Congress fails to agree to a new budget for his department by the end of Friday, inaction by lawmakers would lead to staff furloughs that could harm the U.S. response to terrorist threats and warnings, such as the one late Saturday that names Minnesota's Mall of America.

He estimated that up to 30,000 DHS workers would need to be furloughed, including up to 80 percent of Federal Emergency Management Agency workers even as that agency contends with two months of devastating snowfall and cold from New England to the Mountain States.

"If we are going to shut down, we are greatly compromised," Johnson said during a briefing at the National Governors Association, an annual gathering attended by dozens of the nation's governors.

Congress was returning to work on Monday, just days before funding for DHS' $40 billion budget ends. Lawmakers have until the end of the week to approve the budget and avoid shutting down the department, but no clear solution is in sight.

"The House has acted to fund the Homeland Security Department," Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, said in an email on Sunday. "Now it's time for Senate Democrats to stop blocking legislation that would do the same."

A House-passed bill would cover the department through Sept. 30 and overturn President Barack Obama's executive action to limit deportations for millions of immigrants in the United States illegally. But Senate Democrats are preventing a vote on a similar Senate measure.

The issue was further complicated last week when a federal district court judge in Texas temporarily blocked the administration's plans to protect immigrant parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents from deportation. The decision came as part of a lawsuit filed by 26 states arguing that the president had overstepped his authority in taking the executive action. Johnson said the administration will appeal the ruling.

During a meeting with governors, Johnson was pressed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican and former top DHS official under President George W. Bush, on whether the administration would seek to "resolve this disagreement on policy" regarding the immigration executive actions.

Johnson said Congress should debate the immigration dispute but said lawmakers should not "tie that to the entire budget" of his department.

Two prominent Republican senators agreed with Johnson. South Carolina's Lindsey Graham and Arizona's John McCain said on Sunday they would oppose such a linkage. Graham said he was "willing and ready to pass a DHS funding bill and let this play out in court."

Of Homeland Security's approximately 230,000 employees, some 200,000 of them would keep working even if Congress fails to fund their agency. They would receive no pay, however, until Congress authorizes funding.

"You should not be defunding the agency that is in charge of protecting the homeland. What kind of message does that send?" said Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, where more than 17,000 DHS employees live.

The DHS funding dispute has parallels to the 16-day government-wide shutdown in the fall of 2013, when national parks and monuments closed but essential government functions kept running, albeit sometimes on reduced staff.

Johnson linked the purported Mall of America warning from the Africa-based al-Shabab terror group and other recent terror alerts to what he described as a "new phase" of challenges by extremist groups abroad that have used alarming Internet videos and social media to gain adherents in the U.S. and potentially prod some to action.

He said the U.S. and foreign allies have made progress in tracking thousands of Americans and Europeans who have streamed abroad to join IS and other militant fighters inside Syria. But he said Western countries still need to build better systems to track individuals under suspicion of backing IS and other groups.

Graham spoke on ABC's "This Week"; McCain spoke on CBS' "Face the Nation" and Johnson appeared on CNN's "State of the Union," ABC's "This Week," NBC's "Meet the Press," ''Fox News Sunday" and CBS' "Face the Nation."


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-23

[Loptr]

Well, tell your democratic buddies over in the Senate to quit filibustering the bill and let it go to a vote...

[Ulysses G.]

The House has acted to fund the Homeland Security Department and a Federal Judge has blocked Obama's attempt at amnesty. This would overturn Obama's illegal executive action, before it is too late and any shutdown is on the democrats if they refuse to bring it up for a vote.

[Rancid]

Homeland Security, Gestapo with a touchy feely name.

[Rhys]

Get rid of the TSA Clowns.. that would save the budget.

[NeverSure]

230,000 employees and they can't seal the border but instead warn about snowstorms in the NE. Why would anyone give them money?

[lucky11]

Get rid of the TSA Clowns.. that would save the budget.

.............and they want Thailand to become democratic. Better off as they stand - democracy isn't all that it is made out to be!!

[wwest5829]

The House has acted to fund the Homeland Security Department and a Federal Judge has blocked Obama's attempt at amnesty. This would overturn Obama's illegal executive action, before it is too late and any shutdown is on the democrats if they refuse to bring it up for a vote.

Clean bill on Homeland Security Funding. Immigration needing addressing? Absolutely, so clean bill on Immigration. Argue each of these issues in their own right. I am speaking for cutting out the BS politics and getting on with addressing the nation's needs with clean bills. Where is the problem with doing that?

[Ulysses G.]

The problem is that Obama is overreaching his authority on a frequent basis. The Republican have to fight fire with fire and they control the purse-strings now. The president wants to play political games, but two sides can play that game. The GOP needs to just sink to the democrat's level and abolish the filibuster!

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/22/krauthammer-end-filibuster-to-block-obamas-amnesty-grab/

Edited February 24, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[Srikcir]

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The problem is that Obama is overreaching his authority on a frequent basis. The Republican have to fight fire with fire and they control the purse-strings now. The president wants to play political games, but two sides can play that game. The GOP needs to just sink to the democrat's level and abolish the filibuster!

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/22/krauthammer-end-filibuster-to-block-obamas-amnesty-grab/

Unfortunately, Republicans can't abolish the Presidential veto WITHOUT Democrat support. Change the Senate rules to oevrride the fillibuster and they'll never see the bill made into law. Republicans campaigned to get important legislation done but it still needs to compromise. That is called the check and balance of power.

[Ulysses G.]

The point is to force Obama to either sign, veto or negotiate a compromise. If he vetoes, then he will be held accountable for it. There is no Harry Reid shielding him from responsibility anymore.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/22/krauthammer-end-filibuster-to-block-obamas-amnesty-grab/

[snarky66]

The civil rights activist masquerading as head of Homeland Security is a disgrace. Jeh Johnson is a radical leftist. Clearly the guy is a political operative. He has no conception of Homeland Security. He and his boss are a threat to national security. This blow hard gives press conferences daily to bash America. Piece of garbage.

[snarky66]

Actually they had a vote yesterday on this bill. Final tally 47-46. Apparently a lot of people did the Obama thing and voted present. Cop out. Sounds like all the Dems voted no and some of the rhinos just were a waste of space. Barry is accustomed to getting his own way. Since a child nobody has ever said no to him. Tantrums and retaliation are all he knows. I am a little tired of berry using the Constitution as a floor mat.