House Dems try to bring up ‘clean’ DHS bill

House Democrats tried repeatedly on Wednesday to force a vote on a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security without any immigration-related riders.

All of the eight unanimous consent requests, delivered as a repeated series of House Democrats lining up at the podium during debate on a “rule” governing debate for education policy bills, failed.

{mosads}Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) offered the first uanimous consent request to bring up H.R. 861, which is the House Democrats’ version of a “clean” DHS funding bill without any language to defund President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

At first, Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.), who was managing debate for Republicans, said he was only focusing on consideration of the rule for the education measures. But he noted that the rule allows for expedited consideration of any funding bills this week.

“I continue to yield for the purpose of debate only,” Woodall said.

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), who was presiding over floor debate, ruled the request was out of order.

“The gentleman from Georgia does not yield, therefore the unanimous consent request cannot be entertained,” Denham said.

Then Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) tried to offer another unanimous consent request after Kildee’s failed.

“This is pretty immediate. We need to get this done this week. So therefore, I’d like to would ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that will keep the department open so we can keep the American people safe,” Polis said.

Then Woodall said he wouldn’t allow the bill to get a vote because it doesn’t defund the executive actions.

“If I understood my friend, he’s asking that he bring up a bill that will fund what is that a court said would be illegal to fund. I cannot yield for that kind of request,” Woodall said.

“The gentleman from Georgia does not yield, therefore the unanimous consent request cannot be entertained,” Denham ruled.