New York Times
(First Draft)
By Carl Hulse
November 20, 2014
Mr.
Obama’s speech on immigration policy tonight will be praised by most
Democrats and lambasted by most Republicans, who contend that Mr. Obama
is abusing his authority to provide work permits
to millions of undocumented immigrants.
But
congressional opponents who believe the best way to block the
president’s new initiative is to cut off government funds for it could
be in for a severe disappointment.
Officials
of the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee have concluded
that the government agency most responsible for implementing any new
executive order — the Citizenship and Immigration
Services — would not be hindered if government funds are cut off; it
operates entirely on revenue it generates through immigration
applications.
In
short, lawmakers have no fiscal leverage over the agency, which could
keep operating even if the rest of the government was shut down.
“Congress
does not appropriate funds for any of its operations, including the
issuance of immigration status or work permits, with the exception of
the E-verify program,” the committee said
in a statement. “Therefore the appropriations process cannot be used to
‘de-fund’ the agency.”
Republican
congressional leaders acknowledge it could be politically disastrous
for Republicans to engineer a shutdown just as they are about to take
control of Congress.
Leaders
of the Appropriations Committee say the best course is to act
responsibility, pass a legislative package financing the government for
the 2015 fiscal year and then find other ways
to squeeze the administration when Republicans control the House and
Senate, beginning in January.
The warning that a shutdown wouldn’t shut down the agency handling the new policy was meant to underscore that point.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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