WASHINGTON — Similar to the rest of Congress, Colorado’s delegation remains deeply divided on how to avert a partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because of an ongoing feud over immigration policy.
And the state isn’t split just along party lines.
All four Democrats from Colorado are in lock step with the White House on insisting that the Republican-controlled Congress pass a so-called “clean” bill that funds DHS without undoing President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration.
“You shouldn’t hold the security of our nation hostage,” said U.S. Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder — a sentiment echoed by his fellow party members.
The state’s Republicans, however, are all over the map.
On one end of the spectrum is U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor. The former Weld County district attorney was adamant that — in the event of a DHS shutdown — the blame should be pinned on Senate Democrats and the White House.
He added that House Republicans were resolute in their opposition — although he wouldn’t say whether that meant he supported taking the political brinkmanship to the point of a DHS shutdown.
“There is no stomach in the House in any way, shape or form to accept the president’s executive order,” he said.
Toward the middle of the GOP caucus is U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.
Although he shared Buck’s negative view of the executive order, he spoke more favorably of some kind of short-term deal that would keep DHS funded for a couple months while allowing congressional Republicans to keep up the pressure on immigration.
“There is no benefit in symbolically shutting down the Department of Homeland Security,” he said.
Instead, he said Congress would be well-served by waiting to see what the courts decide — as a Texas judge Obama’s order on immigration.
“We need to recognize the courts have ruled in favor of the House of Representatives,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, meanwhile, has signaled he would back a DHS measure that didn’t address the immigration issue.
“He is supportive of a clean funding bill,” said Tyler Sandberg, a spokesman for the Aurora Republican. “He wants to see the Department of Homeland Security funded, first and foremost.”
That stance, however, shouldn’t be confused with support of Obama’s executive action, Sandberg added.
Although Coffman agrees with the idea of protecting from deportation the immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children — as well as their parents — Sandberg said his boss doesn’t support going around Congress to do it.
Less clear was the stance of newly elected U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.
The Colorado Republican did not agree to an interview. Instead, his office released a statement that spoke less to a legislative solution and more to the actions of Democrats.
“Senate Democrats are playing politics with our national security,” he said in the statement. “It’s wrong, and they should stop.”
Mark K. Matthews: 202-662-8907, mmatthews @denverpost.com or twitter.com/mkmatthews
