(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Texas Republicans: Defund DHS [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-08-10 Fifteen Texas Republican Representatives are holding the Department of Homeland Security hostage, threatening to defund DHS by October 1 unless Congress and the White House gives in to their radical demands. Ordinarily, 15 Representatives could not mount a credible threat. But they have power because Kevin McCarthy cannot hang on to power without them, and he could be ousted without their support. Although Republicans once were strong supporters of DHS, they now are promoting a scenario where (1) essential workers, like customs and border, Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service agents and Coast Guard personnel would be told to work without pay; and (2) “non-essential” DHS employees would be sent home. What are their demands for release of the DHS hostage? They include: 1. A $10 billion ransom payment to the state of Texas, supposedly to reimburse it for border control costs; 2. Resignation of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; 3. Passing Republican border legislation, stalled in the Republican majority House, that curtails the ability of migrants to claim asylum in the US. A continuing resolution is needed by September 30, and the 15 Texas Republicans vow that they will not compromise: “I can tell you right now, for all my colleagues, I will not vote for a continuing resolution or any funding for DHS or DOJ if we don’t get changes to both,” Mr. Roy said on Sunday. “I want the border secure. I want DOJ restored to following the rule of law.” Rep. Chip Roy ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter Asks Lawmakers to Block Funding for DHS Until Border Security Demands Met You can find additional coverage here: 14 Texas Republicans join Roy push to oppose DHS funding without border policy changes House Conservatives Threaten to Shut Down Homeland Security (may be paywall issues) Texas Republican ties US homeland security funding to border demands It is worth noting that many Republicans, even some with districts on the border, oppose the ill conceived bill that is demanded by the 15 Texans. For example: Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from a border district in Texas, said through a spokesperson on Monday that he opposed Roy’s bill, slamming it as one of those “messaging bills that have no chance of being signed into law.” He also condemned the bill for severely restricting asylum access. “It proposes a total shutdown at the border, further emboldening human smugglers to sneak people in through the back door,” Gonzales said. “Our immigration system is broken beyond belief. Covering up the symptoms without addressing the root causes will only cause it to collapse entirely.” House border security bill bumped amid Republican concerns All this from the party that claims it is capable of governing! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/10/2186451/-Texas-Republicans-Defund-DHS Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/