U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., was put on notice on Tuesday by a Republican group that his vote on funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was being watched.
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was successful in his efforts to get the U.S. Senates plan to fund DHS without an attempt to push back against President Barack Obamas executive action on immigration -- letting around 5 million illegals stay in the U.S. without fear of being deported -- through Congress
Yoho has been a thorn in Boehners side over the last two years, refusing to vote for him as speaker in 2013 and running against him earlier this year. On Tuesday, Yoho joined most Republicans in voting against the Senates version of DHS funding.
The American Action Network (AAN) launched a digital ad on Tuesday, urging Yoho to vote to fund DHS. AAN is also targeting other Republicans who could sink the funding. The group defines itself as an "action tank" that creates, encourages and promotes center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security.' AAN's primary goal is "to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into action to advance our center-right policy agenda. Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., chairs AAN.
Its important that Congress funds national security programs that keep America safe, said Mike Shields, the president of AAN, on Tuesday. Conservatives nationwide support keeping Homeland Security open and funding programs like enhanced cyber-security and fully enforcing the U.S.-Mexico border. Its important that voters hear the facts about Homeland Security and call Congress to support crucial national security funding.
But foes noted AAN has ties to Boehner and urged conservatives to stand up to the House speaker. Former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh, R-Ind., now the president of the Club for Growth PAC, promised his group would support any Republican who broke with Boehner on DHS funding.
The Club for Growth has taken no position on the DHS funding bill, and we take no position on it now, McIntosh said on Tuesday. However, when the House speakers super-PAC chooses to attack conservatives in the House for taking a stand on the principles they believe in, that is a matter of concern to us. Whats next? Will Speaker Boehner run ads against House conservatives who oppose raising the debt ceiling or support eliminating the corporate welfare slush fund that is the Export-Import Bank?
We have a message for those House Republicans who might be targeted: If the speaker of the House attacks you for standing up for economic freedom and limited government, the Club for Growth PAC will have your back, McIntosh added.
On Sunday, after voting last week to extend DHS funding for a week, Yoho blamed Democrats in the U.S. Senate for the impasse.
Unfortunately Senate Democrats refused to put aside their political agenda and once again prevented the Senate from funding Homeland Security the right way, Yoho said. Due to their stubborn defense of the presidents unconstitutional executive actions on immigration, Congress needs more time to negotiate funding. The appropriations bill passed out of the House over a month ago would have fully funded DHS and also blocked the presidents executive amnesty just as the American people wanted. Instead, Senate Democrats put their partisan agenda above national security and blocked that bill from passing the Senate. This next week, I encourage Republicans to stand strong in defense of the Constitution and against the presidents continued executive overreach. I also look forward to watching as the ruling against executive amnesty is upheld in federal court.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
