Post by Logan on Jan 20, 2016 15:21:57 GMT -6
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill that would crack down on Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. as the debate turned into a referendum on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his policies.
Senate Democrats sought to force election-year votes as Trump — who holds a commanding lead in national polls for the Republican presidential nomination — has called for barring Muslims from coming to the United States. Republicans wanted similar votes on politically fraught amendments.
The Senate fell short of the three-fifths needed to move ahead. The vote was 55-43.
The House legislation would require new FBI background checks and individual sign-offs from three high-ranking federal officials before any refugee from Syria or Iraq could come to the United States. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act cleared the House in November in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. It received 289 votes, a veto-proof margin that included 47 Democrats — despite President Barack Obama's opposition.
Continued at bigstory.ap.org/article/0accfa42f60c42ca98c4343f9dea00de/senate-leader-says-no-fearmongering-syrian-refugee-bill
Senate Democrats sought to force election-year votes as Trump — who holds a commanding lead in national polls for the Republican presidential nomination — has called for barring Muslims from coming to the United States. Republicans wanted similar votes on politically fraught amendments.
The Senate fell short of the three-fifths needed to move ahead. The vote was 55-43.
The House legislation would require new FBI background checks and individual sign-offs from three high-ranking federal officials before any refugee from Syria or Iraq could come to the United States. The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act cleared the House in November in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. It received 289 votes, a veto-proof margin that included 47 Democrats — despite President Barack Obama's opposition.
Continued at bigstory.ap.org/article/0accfa42f60c42ca98c4343f9dea00de/senate-leader-says-no-fearmongering-syrian-refugee-bill