U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., insists Americans are against President Barack Obamas executive action on immigration as he brings forth a bill on Thursday to prevent Obama from using an executive order to allow illegals a path to stay in the nation.
Yoho talked to Sunshine State News on Wednesday and pointed to the Republican victories in last months elections.
The American people have spoken, Yoho said. They want immigration fixed ... not executive action.
Citing polls and the correspondence his office receives, Yoho told Sunshine State News that immigration was one of the most important issues in the minds of many Americans and that something needed to be done about it. Looking to the past elections, Yoho said immigration was a major issue in recent months, pointing toward then-U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., going down to defeat in the Republican primary.
If you look back at Eric Cantors race, one of the biggest issues that led to his defeat was immigration, Yoho said.
Yoho introduced his Executive Amnesty Prevention Act" in late November which he says will keep Obama from overstepping his constitutional boundaries on immigration. Pointing to the Constitution, Yoho stressed Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 allows Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization and Article II, Section 3 ensures the president shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
Calling for solutions, Yoho said the federal government needed to do more, including securing the border and implementing a good government worker program. Yoho, a large-animal veteran who serves on the Agriculture Committee, stressed that the agriculture community was on board for a strong immigration reform plan.
The national media have focused on whether U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is placating conservatives by letting them vote on Yohos bill in return for having them on board to avoid a government shutdown. Yoho said he was not second-guessing Boehner, who he voted against to be speaker but stressed the bill on its own merits.
What leaderships motivations are behind this, I dont know, Yoho told Sunshine State News. This is a good bill. Yoho called for his bill and federal funding to be kept separated.
Yoho said his bill was not a simply symbolic bill and insisted there is a chance it can get through the U.S. Senate despite it remaining under Democratic control for another month. Yohos bill moved through the House Rules Committee on Wednesday and will be voted on by the full House on Thursday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
