Obama threatens to veto House GOP bill on Syrian refugees

Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., is co-sponsoring House legislation to block funding for resettling Syrian refugees in the USA, saying federal security screening is inadequate to keep terrorists from coming here as refugees.

“This legislation would introduce unnecessary and impractical requirements that would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist a few of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism, and would undermine our partners in the Middle East and Europe in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis”, the White House said in a statement.

A new Bloomberg poll shows most Americans side with Republicans in halting the program to accept Syrian refugees in the U.S.

None of the suspects identified so far in the Paris attacks has been identified as a Syrian refugee and the German interior minister says the Syrian migrant passport found at the scene is likely a fake. President Barack Obama, who wants to allow 10,000 more Syrians into the US this year, has threatened to veto it. Just 28 percent of all Americans – including 32 percent of Republicans and 17 percent of Democrats – said the religion is inherently violent, while 64 percent – 61 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Democrats – said it is not. Nonetheless, numerous House conservatives who’ve caused problems for GOP leadership on legislation of all kinds said they would support it. “But instead of blaming people or assuming people are bigots, come out and explain what the vetting process is and I think people will feel more comfortable”.

One of the report’s authors, RNC committeeman Henry Barbour, said Tuesday that it’s “common sense to tap the brakes” on Syrian refugees given security concerns, but “people need to be careful with their tone”.

“I’ve said to them from the start, ‘Nobody’s asked you to do anything”.

Obama took particular ire at a proposal by GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush to admit only Christian Syrians. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, top Democrat on the Homeland Security panel, and other Democrats were proposing a measure blocking admission for any refugees the government finds have not fully established their identities. Syrians undergo additional screening involving data from the United Nations Refugee Agency and interviews by Homeland Security Department officials trained to question Syrians.

Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Daniel Coats (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) have also signed the letter.

The fight is already threatening to set up another government shutdown showdown as Congress must pass a crucial spending bill by December 11. Obama said he’s been waiting for a year and a half for lawmakers to take up refugee legislation, questioning why they are now suddenly in a rush.