Senate

McConnell tees up sanctuary cities bill for vote

by Jordain Carney - 10/08/15 2:35 PM ET

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday teed up a bill to crack down on sanctuary cities for later this month.

{mosads}The Republican leader set up a procedural vote on proceeding to the bill from Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). The legislation, which was fast-tracked to the Senate floor earlier this week, restricts federal funding for cities that don’t comply with federal immigration law.

Because the Senate is scheduled to be out of session next week, the cloture vote on taking up the bill is scheduled for Oct. 20.

Republicans have been focused on the issue since the death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle, who was shot in San Francisco, allegedly by an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times.

McConnell asked senators to consider the bill while they were back in their home states during next week’s break.

“The proponents of so-called sanctuary cities seem to callously disregard how their policies can hurt others,” he added. That’s not right.”

– Updated at 3:10 p.m.

Tags Mitch McConnell Sanctuary