House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) made it clear Sunday that House Republicans won't rush in at the last minute to keep the Department of Homeland Security open if Democrats continue to block a DHS funding bill.
On Fox News Sunday, Boehner was pressed again on the fate of the agency, whose funding expires on February 27. Boehner said Democrats in the Senate are the ones blocking the bill, and they should be blamed if they can't agree to advance and ultimately pass the bill.
"What if the Department of Homeland Security funding runs out?" Chris Wallace asked.
"Well then, Senate Democrats should be to blame. Very simple," Boehner said.
"And you're prepared to let that happen?"
"Certainly," Boehner replied. "The House has acted, we've done our job."
Republicans and Democrats have spent the last few weeks blaming each other for what now appears to be a partial shutdown of DHS. As Boehner has said repeatedly, Senate Democrats have refused four times to allow a DHS funding bill to advance in the Senate. Last week, he said Democrats should be blamed if the bill stalls in the Senate.
Democrats have said it's the fault of Republicans, since the GOP is trying to advance a bill that would also defund President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration. Democrats oppose this language, and they've blocked the Senate bill from moving ahead four times over the last two weeks.
Last week, Boehner's office rejected an idea floated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that the House should act on another bill that Democrats don't oppose. Late last week, 170 House Republicans called on Democrats to let the bill move forward, and look to amend it if they want instead of just blocking it.
