In the latest salvo between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner over immigration reform, Obama signaled his intention to use executive action to address problems at the border. (Via Flickr / Speaker John Boehner, The White House)
The speech was light on specifics: Obama said he would redirect resources toward securing the border and would ask his advisers for more recommendations. But his comments were heavy on something else: blame.
"Our country and our economy would be stronger today if House Republicans had allowed a simple yes-or-no vote on this bill or, for that matter, any bill. ... Their argument seems to be that, because the system is broken, we shouldn't make an effort to fix it." (Via The White House)
It's been more than a year since the Senate passed its immigration reform bill. Speaker Boehner has refused to bring a similar bill to a vote in the House and, according to The White House, made clear he doesn't intend to any time soon. (Via CBS)
Democrats echoed the president's attacks on the speaker, with Senate majority leader Harry Reid and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi laying the blame at Boehner's feet for the immigration crisis.
The number of unaccompanied children crossing the border has surged this year, overwhelming U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents who weren't equipped to handle the influx. (Via The Washington Post)
Not to be outdone, Boehner blamed Obama for causing the crisis in the first place. "The president's own executive orders have led directly to the humanitarian crisis along the southern border, giving false hope to children and their families that if they enter the country illegally they will be allowed to stay."
Boehner said the reason he won't bring the bill to a vote is because the public doesn't trust Obama to enact the law as written. And then there's that whole "executive action" thing.
Last week, Boehner said he plans to sue the president for breaching his constitutional authority by sidestepping Congress on controversial issues like gun control and same-sex marriage. Now, Obama is promising to take more executive action. (Via C-SPAN)
For the record, Boehner's staff denies that the speaker ever told the president there would be no vote on immigration reform this year, despite White House claims.
