Political Quotes

“Madam President, this morning we have the opportunity to accomplish two important goals. First, we can pass legislation which will fully fund the Department of Homeland Security so it can perform its vital mission. Second, we have the opportunity to stand up for our constitutional system of separation of powers. I support and voted for comprehensive immigration reform. But the President's overreach usurps the role of Congress and undermines our constitutional system of checks and balances. The failure of Congress to pass a law to the President's liking cannot become an excuse for the President to usurp the powers of the legislative branch. The President knows he lacks the authority to write the law. He has said so 22 times, on 22 different occasions. Allow me to describe my bill very briefly. Specifically, it does four things. First, it bars the administration from using funds to implement the immigration orders issued by the President in November of last year. Second, it has absolutely no effect on the much more constrained and limited Executive orders the President issued in 2012, the so-called DACA Program that protects the DREAMers, to whom I am very sympathetic. Third, it directs the Department to give the highest enforcement priority to the deportation of foreign nationals in our country illegally who have been convicted of domestic violence, child abuse, exploitation, or a sex crime.…”