House Majority Whip Steve Scalise urged the public to "light up the Senate switchboard' between now and Monday evening to urge Democrats to vote to defund President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration.
Appearing on
"Fox News Sunday," the Louisiana Republican voiced optimism that Senate Democrats could be persuaded to vote with Republicans.
He told host Chris Wallace that two weeks ago those same Democrats were saying they would never even take up the Republican bill that defunds the portion of the Department of Homeland Security that funds the actions. Facing a deadline on Friday, they did just that.
But Democrats insisted on stripping from the House bill the defunding portions, and the bill now goes to conference. The one-week extension that passed last Friday expires this coming Friday.
Scalise denied claims by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi that Republican House Speaker John Boehner has promised to bring a bill with full funding through September to the floor for a vote.
CNN reported last week that a group of 52 conservative and tea party-backed members have threatened to try to remove Boehner from his speakership if that happens.
Scalise brushed aside those concerns, saying the vote was held for speaker last month and is now over.
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