WASHINGTON — House Republicans want to slash President Barack Obama's emergency spending request for the border, speed young migrants back home to Central America, and send in the National Guard.
The proposals Wednesday morning put the House on a collision course with the Democratic-run Senate, and increased the likelihood that congressional efforts to address the crisis on the southern border, where unaccompanied kids and teens have been showing up by the tens of thousands, will end in stalemate.
Moreover, it was not clear whether the House would be able to approve the proposal rolled out Wednesday by a working group established by Speaker John Boehner.
Conservative lawmakers voiced objections, and Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana said Boehner told Republicans he was undecided about taking the plan to the floor because he doesn't know if there are enough votes to pass it.
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala, said he couldn't support it, complaining that Obama has turned the U.S. into the "world's sugar daddy."
Several GOP lawmakers said the House plan would cost about $1.5 billion, compared with Obama's original $3.7 billion request for more immigration judges, detention facilities and other resources to deal with unaccompanied kids.
A plan by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Mikulski would cost $2.7 billion.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.