WASHINGTON -- The four members of Arkansas' all-Republican House delegation on Tuesday voted against a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, saying they are concerned it doesn't restrict President Barack Obama's recent immigration order.
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The House approved the measure 257-167 after weeks of arguing over how to fund the country's third-largest federal agency.
At issue was whether the funding bill should specify that no money could go toward implementing new immigration policy announced by Obama in the fall that would allow up to 5 million illegal immigrants to remain in the United States without the threat of deportation.
U.S. Rep. French Hill of Little Rock said he voted in favor of the funding bill in January when it blocked funding for the new immigration order and was disappointed to see Senate Democrats stop that bill.
"I voted no [Tuesday] just to illustrate my protest on the president's illegal actions and also my feelings about the Senate Democrat's filibuster of a full [homeland security] funding with the caveat that we just not fund the president's executive order," Hill said. "I think it's important that we voice our dissatisfaction with the president's leadership on this bill and this issue by sending him that message."
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro said the House needed to do something.
"I'm not happy with the president's overreach, and I think that we should exercise some legislative action that reflects the will of the people that also upholds the Constitution," he said.
Ultimately it came down to agreeing on a bill the president would sign without shutting down the federal agency.
"The folks back home recognize that they want us to do everything that we can, [but] we also have a responsibility to keep the country safe, so we've got to find the balance and do the right thing," Crawford said. "Time is not on our side on this deal and we have to make sure that we are serious about protecting the homeland."
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers said the legislative stalemate should have been resolved in a "conference committee," when members of each chamber meet to resolve differences in legislation. Senate Democrats refused to agree to a conference, which Womack said prompted his no vote.
"We had a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to the American public that the House and the Senate can work out their differences and the Senate thumbed their nose at the House, so as far as I'm concerned my no vote was justified," he said.
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs said he wouldn't support a funding bill without the limitations.
"I voted no today because the so-called 'clean' bill was anything but. It did nothing to address the president's illegal actions and I will not lend my support to usurping the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution be it for providing amnesty to illegal aliens or any other matter the president tries to legislate from the Oval Office," he said.
Metro on 03/04/2015