Boehner Quotes Obama 22 Times on Immigration Action
In a last-minute effort urging lawmakers to support a Homeland Security spending bill blocking President Barack Obama #39;s immigration orders, Speaker John A. Boehner, in a rare floor speech,...
By: Roll Call
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Boehner Quotes Obama 22 Times on Immigration Action - Video
Ben Shapiro: Fracking Saved the Obama Economy
Ben Shapiro explores hydraulic fracking and it #39;s effects on the Obama economy. It turns out that Obama #39;s recovery hasn #39;t been his recovery at all: it #39;s been those evil oil and gas companies.
By: TruthRevoltOriginals
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Ben Shapiro: Fracking Saved the Obama Economy - Video
But Obama and top Republican lawmakers also made clear that there's just no way to avoid two looming showdowns: Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline; and a GOP effort to attack Obama's overhaul of immigration rules in the same bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security.
Both sides said those issues came up in the meeting, which featured Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and 19 Republican and Democratic congressional leaders -- but offered no indications that they'd brokered any solutions.
Republicans said they had urged Obama not to threaten vetoes -- as he has on those two measures -- until they are closer to reaching his desk.
"But unfortunately he's pretty dug in on some of those issue and I don't think he expressed any willingness to reverse his course of action on the veto threats he's already issued," said Sen. John Thune.
"But I think in terms of the relationship and working with Congress, it's advantageous for him in the long run and for us for him not to draw lines in the sand so early on," the South Dakota Republican said. "Hopefully he was listening."
In a read-out of the meeting, the White House said Obama called for the Homeland Security Department to be funded "without delay."
"The President underscored there are priorities that rise above politics -- including keeping Americans safe by promptly and fully funding the Department of Homeland Security without delay so the men and women working there can operate with the confidence they need," the White House said.
But in a separate read-out, House Speaker John Boehner's office said the Ohio Republican made clear that the immigration provisions, undoing Obama's executive actions to forestall deportations for the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens, as well as his previous move to prevent the deportation of young people who have spent most of their lives in the United States, won't be dropped from the bill.
"The bill will include amendments to stop the president's unilateral actions on immigration, and the speaker reminded the president that he himself had stated publicly many times in the past that he did not have the power to rewrite immigration law through executive action," Boehner's office said.
Still, lawmakers departing the meeting said they had identified some areas where they could work together.
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Obama, Hill leader meeting agenda: Find common ground
President Obama and Republican lawmakers are renewing efforts to officially authorize the fight against Islamic State terrorists, an issue that could become one of the earliest areas of cooperation between the White House and the new GOP-led Congress.
Meeting with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday, Obama suggested Republicans and Democrats might be able to work together on the economy and national security, and both sides were poised to work on the details of a new authorization for military force.
After months of little action, the potential step forward could ultimately end the reliance on Sept. 11-era laws to wage war against a new generation of militants in the Middle East.
Obama welcomed lawmakers' interest, "a clear signal of support for our ongoing military operations," a White House official said Tuesday night, requesting anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.
The nod toward collaboration came during the first major sit-down meeting since the GOP assumed control of the House and Senate. Both sides pledged to work together, mentioning cybersecurity as another opportunity to join forces.
Still, the room was not in lockstep. Obama asked lawmakers not to pass tough new sanctions against Iran that he believes would derail the diplomatic talks on the country's nuclear program. He also made a pitch for a federal investment in infrastructure to boost the economy and create jobs.
From the other side, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) expressed disappointment that Obama had already issued a veto threat on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, but was optimistic they could work together on cybersecurity.
As lawmakers gathered around the conference table of the White House Cabinet Room, the fight against Islamic State was one agenda item that appeared primed for debate.
When Obama authorized airstrikes in Iraq and Syria last year, Congress was initially reluctant to wade into a war debate. But the mood among lawmakers shifted, and they began demanding a vote on the issue. Many think the administration should no longer rely on the decade-old war authorizations.
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) has repeatedly insisted that any effort to draft a new force resolution must begin with the White House, saying such measures historically have come from the executive branch. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took a slightly different view, telling CNN in December that he would prefer the White House take the lead but that "we're not going to wait forever."
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Obama, Congress may find common ground on fighting Islamic State
President Barack Obama told congressional leaders he will propose terms for a measure authorizing U.S. military force against Islamic State, two top Republicans said following a White House meeting today.
Obama had said in November that he would seek authorization from Congress to fight the Sunni terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Since then, Republicans including House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have criticized him for not spelling out possible provisions for U.S. military involvement, such as whether to impose a time limit.
A good starting place is for him to tell us what he wants, McConnell of Kentucky told reporters after the meeting.
A debate over efforts to defeat Islamic State would reopen tension over the presidents authority to conduct military operations and uneasiness among some lawmakers -- mostly Obamas fellow Democrats -- about being drawn into open-ended conflicts and ground combat.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the Senates second-ranking Republican, told reporters after todays meeting at the White House that the presidents statement came as a little bit of a surprise.
I think thats helpful because weve been trying to get him to come up with the plan and show a little bit of what his strategy is going to be, the senator said.
Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said he believes Obama is going to make some proposal on an authorization for use of military force.
A White House statement said Obama committed to working with members of both parties on an authorization that Congress can pass to show the world America stands united against ISIL, an acronym for Islamic States former name.
Congressional leaders of both parties met with Obama today for about an hour, the first such meeting since Congress opened its new session this month with Republicans in control of both chambers for the first time in eight years.
Lawmakers who attended said the discussion was wide-ranging and covered topics including trade, cybersecurity, infrastructure and the Keystone XL pipeline.
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Obama to Offer Proposal for War on Islamic State, Senators Say