Dan Coats: “later this month, on February 27, funding for the Department of Homeland Security will run out. I think we all agree…”

“later this month, on February 27, funding for the Department of Homeland Security will run out. I think we all agree this is a critical time for our country's national security, and it is important that we fully fund Department of Homeland Security to protect Americans against terrorist attacks. But in recent days several of my friends across the aisle have spoken on this floor asserting that Republicans are trying to force a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Nothing could be further from the truth. Essentially, their argument is that unless Republicans choose to completely agree with President Obama's egregious constitutional violation of executive power to implement major changes in our immigration laws--an issue which is clearly the responsibility of the people's elected representatives--then Republicans will be responsible for any lapse in DHS funding. So to put all this in perspective regarding this situation and the assertion that a few of my colleagues have made, let me give you some thoughts. First, let's remember how we got into this situation to start with. In 2008, a Presidential candidate by the name of Barack Obama said the following: I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we are facing right now have to do with trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Congress at all. And that's what I intend to reverse when I am President of the United States of America.…”