Oh Goody... 'House Dems Back GOP On Bill To Pause Admittance Of Some Refugees' - HuffPo [View all]

[WillyT]

House Dems Back GOP On Bill To Pause Admittance Of Some Refugees
They supported the legislation despite White House opposition.
Elise Foley - HuffPo
Posted: 11/19/2015 02:02 PM EST | Edited: 1 hour ago

<snip>

WASHINGTON -- Forty-seven House Democrats broke with the White House on Thursday to vote for a bill aimed at pausing admittance of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by adding requirements to an already lengthy screening process, and putting pressure on intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security officials to act with caution.

The Obama administration threatened a veto on Wednesday evening. But a number of Democrats peeled off anyway, under significant pressure from constituents to act after terrorist attacks in Paris last week. The bill passed 289-137 -- with enough support to override a veto, should there be one.

Some Democrats said the legislation simply wasn't as bad as the administration made it out to be, even after a briefing earlier in the day with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.

"It isn't what it was characterized as, so why would we oppose that?" Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). He voted for the bill Thursday.

They also expressed frustration that the White House hadn't better explained the refugee vetting process, which many agreed is already extensive, with voters and politicians.

"I've seen better presentations in my time here," Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who voted with Republicans Thursday, told reporters. "They may have strong arguments on their side, but they're not expressing those strong arguments sufficiently."

<snip>

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/house-syrian-refugees_564df0fae4b031745cf00f5c