Speaker of the House Paul Ryan stopped House Democrats’ bill to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, fearing political backlash if Democrats voted against their own bill and made Republicans look weak.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised reporters Friday that Republican leadership would bring the Democrats’ proposal to the floor for a vote.
The new play is to vote on a Republican bill sponsored by GOP Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana that would support ICE. Higgins’ bill opposes the abolishing the agency.
Republicans original thinking in taking up the Democrats’ abolish ICE bill was to force their hands on the floor. If Democrats voted for the bill, then Republicans could use that in the November midterm elections, roasting them for being “weak” on border security. The other thought was that some Democrats would vote against it, as many hinted they would do last week, and that would cause a schism in the Democratic conference. (RELATED: Democrats Introduce Bill To Abolish ICE)
Putting the GOP bill to support ICE on the floor could work in much the same manner. If Democrats oppose it, Republicans have the opportunity to use that in the midterms. (RELATED: Poll: Little Support For Abolition Of ICE)
The majority of Americans support the continuation of ICE, so the move on the part of Republican leadership could prove fruitful.
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