The House voted Wednesday to block the Obama administration from spending any money to defend against a lawsuit over Obama’s executive orders on immigration:
The 222-204 vote came on an amendment by leading immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King of Iowa to a spending bill for the Commerce and Justice Departments.
House Republicans spent weeks earlier this year trying to overturn President Barack Obama’s executive actions from last fall that granted work permits and stays of deportation to millions of immigrants living in this country illegally. The House efforts were unsuccessful, but Republicans have claimed success anyway, noting that the policies have been put on hold by a federal judge in a lawsuit by a group of states seeking to overturn the actions.
More than two dozen states argued that Obama’s executive action was unconstitutional.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear arguments next month in the lawsuit. King’s amendment would block the administration from spending any money to defend against it.
It was one of a handful of immigration-related amendments offered by King and approved by the GOP-controlled House.
The House also voted 227-198 for an amendment that would block certain federal funds from localities that refuse to report names of criminals to federal immigration authorities.
