By Cronkite News
Originally published: Oct 11, 2013 – 12:10 am
WASHINGTON – The House voted Thursday to fund Department of Homeland Security operations for fiscal 2014, the latest in a string of votes to reopen specific agencies in a strategy that Democrats deride as “cherry-picking” areas of the government.
The resolution, which passed on a largely party-line vote, would fund security, enforcement and investigations at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among other agencies.
It is the 13th such resolution passed by the House, all of which have stalled in the Senate. Leaders there have refused to vote on individual agency budgets, arguing instead for a budget bill that would allow the entire federal government to reopen.
“It’s really not the right answer,” said Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff, of the latest resolution.
She was one of three Arizona Democrats, with Reps. Ed Pastor of Phoenix and Raul Grijalva of Tucson, to vote against the border bill. Democratic Reps. Ron Barber of Tucson and Kyrsten Sinema of Phoenix joined the state’s four Republicans to support the measure.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the resolution would provide $19.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Coast Guard and other immigration and customs operations.
In a speech on the House floor Thursday, Barber said his first priority is “the safety and security of Southern Arizonans,” and that the shutdown was causing border patrol agents “uncertainty about their pay and the future of their mission.”
“These brave men and women are our first line of defense in securing the homeland,” he said. “They deserve our respect and support.”
Barber and Sinema were two of just 21 Democrats who broke with their party to help pass the funding measure on a 249-175 vote.
But Kirkpatrick said she hoped that instead of passing a series of spending proposals, House Republicans would allow a vote on the comprehensive spending bill.
“We could end this government shutdown tonight,” she said of the comprehensive bill. “It’s already gone through the Senate, the president is ready to sign it.”
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, called the “lack of cohesive voting” among Arizona Democrats interesting, and called the resolution “essential for Arizona.” Individual appropriations are nothing new, he said, and the measure passed Thursday is “common sense” for the security of Arizona and the nation.
“It’s sad that we have to articulate these premises to the administration,” Gosar said. “The executive branch has decided that it’s going to make it hurt for the citizens and individuals throughout this country if they don’t get their way.”
Gosar said 82 percent of the government is operating, and that number would rise to more than 90 percent if the Senate would pass the 13 funding bills already approved by the House. But that will not happen, he said, as long as President Barack Obama refuses to negotiate.
“I think everybody would start to move if the president showed some leadership in regards to not saying, ‘My way or the highway,'” Gosar said.
This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2013.
One would think that a news service as esteemed as Cronkite would get this one correct. They should know how the Appropriation process works, or is supposed to work to put it correctly.
All appropriation bills must originate in the House. The House usually presents the AB’s in groups by Departments. For FY 2014, there are 12 primary AB’s. Of those 12, all have made it through Committee and 4 have passed the House.
he one exception is the Interior Department AB. Neither the House nor the Senate have proposed an AB for Interior.
On the other hand, the Senate has acted on each of the Department AB’s in committee but has failed to bring a single one of them to the floor – NOT ONE!
We must end the current practice of proposing and passing budgets via Omnibus and Continuing Resolutions. Let’s return to the days when the House and the Senate passed Departmental Appropriation bills, worked out their differences in Conference and passed them.
It’s time to replace Barber with a Democrat in my district.
“These brave men and women are our first line of defense in securing the homeland,”
Ron, If you knew how disturbingly similar cheney/gwbush’s term is to “Fatherland”…
‘Most typically, “fatherland” is used in a context referring to Germany. In German “Vaterland” means “fatherland”; however, since World War II this term has developed Nazi connotations, so it is now avoided in general except in ironic or humorous contexts.’
I agree, it would be very refreshing to see a Democrat represent my (soon to be former) district…
Barber is clearly not looking out the window this weekend at the brave people who are our first line of defense against ICE. Border Security is Republican Code for Police State and I hope Barber will realize that before the next election. Or, he can come out of the closet and run as a Republican.