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In a five-paragraph letter to lawmakers accompanying the three-page draft resolution provided to The Associated Press, Obama said the Islamic State "poses a threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria and the broader Middle East and to U.S. national security."

The VA hasn’t fully addressed more than 100 of the accountability office’s recommendations, some stretching back more than a decade including those that have reportedly harmed veterans, according to the report.

The critical government agency – tasked with overseeing everything from the Transportation Security Administration airport screenings
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Funding for the vital agency is being tied to the heart of battle over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration..
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“The American people didn’t give us the majority to have a fight between House and Senate Republicans,” Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain said Sunday on “Meet the Press,” “We cannot cut funding for the Department of Homeland Security.”

TPRJones wrote:This is why any representative government HAS to have a none of the above option in every election. I strongly suspect the majority of "apathetic" non-voters would be thrilled to vote if you offered them a candidate that wasn't total shit.

The ruling comes as Congress debates how to extend funding authority for the Department of Homeland Security. House Republicans have passed a bill that funds the department through September but blocks funding to enforce any of Obama's executive actions. Senate Democrats have threatened a filibuster, and the White House has threatened a veto.

"So in our work, we have to make sure that abuses stop, are not repeated, that we do not stigmatize entire communities," Obama said. "Nobody should be profiled under a cloud of suspicion simply because of their faith."

Malcolm wrote:Bitchslapped.

The ruling comes as Congress debates how to extend funding authority for the Department of Homeland Security. House Republicans have passed a bill that funds the department through September but blocks funding to enforce any of Obama's executive actions. Senate Democrats have threatened a filibuster, and the White House has threatened a veto.

Watch the bipartisanship in motion.

Malcolm wrote:

Malcolm wrote:Bitchslapped.

The ruling comes as Congress debates how to extend funding authority for the Department of Homeland Security. House Republicans have passed a bill that funds the department through September but blocks funding to enforce any of Obama's executive actions. Senate Democrats have threatened a filibuster, and the White House has threatened a veto.

Watch the bipartisanship in motion.

Let the political deep throating commence.

A new $39.7 billion budget for the department...

"It will have a direct impact on your economy, and it will have a direct impact on America's national security because their hard work helps to keep us safe," Obama said in a speech to a meeting of state governors at the White House.

Republican-authored provisions that aim to block any spending on Obama's recent executive orders, which lift the threat of deportation from millions of undocumented immigrants.

Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski said Homeland Security employees are working this winter in harsh conditions. She said, "They're out there saving lives and we are playing parliamentary ping-pong.''

Also, dude lies about military service.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald has admitted that he lied about serving in the special operations forces in a conversation with a homeless veteran that was caught on camera earlier this year.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters he was prepared to move swiftly on a bill to extend funding for DHS through the fiscal year that is not contingent on Republican demands to repeal President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.