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Saturday 19 May 2018
Conservative revolt over immigration sinks House farm bill

at heading off a drive by
moderates who are just five
Republican signatures short
on a petition to force votes
on a bipartisan immigration
bill Democrats would likely
support.
The deputy whip, Rep. Pat-
rick McHenry, R-N.C., said it
was only when he arrived
on the floor Friday that he
realized the farm bill would
come up short. He said the
conservative flank is "trying
to extract something" more
on immigration.
But Rep. Mark Meadows, R-
N.C., the head of the Free-
dom Caucus, told reporters
there was "no deal" on im-
migration. He downplayed
the setback on the farm bill,
saying "it's not a fatal blow.
It's just a reorganizing."
The scramble will likely drive
more Republicans to sign
on to the renegade effort
to push the compromise
immigration bill to a floor
vote over the objection of
party leaders.
Conservatives defended
their move, saying they
House Chief Deputy Whip Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., is surrounded by reporters as he walks to the chamber for a highly con- are standing for voters who
tested vote on the farm bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 18, 2018. want Trump's border wall
Associated Press and other stricter immigra-
tion measures and want as-
By ANDREW TAYLOR The vote was a blow to GOP don't hold one thing hos- jority in Congress is another surances that GOP leaders
LISA MASCARO leaders, exposing the pow- tage for something that's reason why voters in No- would not help an overly
WASHINGTON (AP) — er struggle underway as totally different," he said. vember "are going to give moderate immigration bill
House Republican lead- leaders jockey to replace Conservatives, though, us their jobs." clear the House. Said Rep.
ers suffered an embarrass- Speaker Paul Ryan, who is have gained clout in the The farm bill's rejection Scott Perry, R-Pa., a Free-
ing setback Friday when not seeking re-election. It House by withholding their scrambled the prospects dom Caucus member, "The
conservatives scuttled an disrupts GOP efforts to por- block of some 30 votes to for what had seemed to be farm bill was just a casualty,
ambitious farm bill, part of tray party unity ahead of exert their sway on legisla- an agreement over the im- unfortunately."
a high-stakes power play the midterm election and tion. That strategy is only ex- migration standoff. But Republican Rep. Mario
as they once again exert to rack up legislative wins pected to escalate as they House Republicans, includ- Diaz-Balart of Florida, who
their oversized sway in the to motivate voters to the jockey for promotions up ing Majority Leader Kevin supports both the farm bill
House. polls to keep their majority. the leadership ladder once McCarthy, R-Calif., worked and the immigration ef-
In this case, conservatives Trump is "disappointed in Ryan retires. into the night trying to ne- fort, said the conservatives
in the House Freedom Cau- the result of today's vote" Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a gotiate a resolution and once again played into the
cus wanted to slow the and "hopes the House can leader of the House Free- some thought they had a hands of House Minority
momentum of bipartisan resolve any remaining is- dom Caucus who has ex- reached a deal. It would Leader Nancy Pelosi, join-
immigration legislation to sues," said Deputy Press pressed an interest in run- have allowed rival immi- ing Democrats in dooming
help young "Dreamers." Secretary Lindsay Walters. ning for House speaker, said gration bills to proceed to the GOP bill.
Republican moderates The outcome also shelves some conservatives had the floor by late June. "Nancy Pelosi and her allies
are gaining ground with for now the big, five-year concerns over the farm One bill from hard-liners just won a big victory," he
their immigration effort and farm bill, a top GOP priority bill, largely because of its would reduce legal im- said.
conservatives don't like the because it combines strict- spending, but "my main fo- migration and open the As for the farm bill's fate, the
deals taking shape. By with- er work and job training re- cus was making sure we do door to Trump's border wall debacle appears to make
holding their votes on the quirements for food stamp immigration policy right." with Mexico. A second, it even more likely that
farm bill, they flexed their recipients — long pushed Democrats are strongly op- being negotiated with the Congress will simply extend
political muscle to doom by Ryan as part of his safety posed to the farm bill, say- White House, GOP leaders the current farm bill when it
both. net cuts — with a renewal ing the stricter work and and Democrats, would be expires in September.
Not even a tweet from Pres- of farm subsidies popular in job training rules are poorly aimed at and bolstering In the Senate, Agriculture
ident Donald Trump sup- GOP-leaning farm country. designed and would drive border security and help- Committee Chairman Pat
porting the farm bill could Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a 2 million people off food ing young "Dreamer" immi- Roberts, R-Kan., is promising
save it from the chaos Fri- veteran campaign strate- stamps. They took a victory grants — those who were a competing bill later this
day. It was defeated, 213- gist, said it's a "mistake" for lap after the vote. brought to the U.S. illegally month. He's signaling that
198. Some 30 Republicans conservatives to play the Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, as children — to remain its changes to food stamps
joined with every chamber farm and immigration bills D-Md. said the dysfunction permanently in the U.S. would be far more modest
Democrat in opposition. against each other. "You under the Republican ma- The accord was aimed than the House measure.q