House GOP votes to block administration on immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans have voted to block the Obama administration from spending any money against a lawsuit over the president’s immigration policies.

The 222-204 vote Wednesday came on an amendment by leading immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King of Iowa to a spending bill for the Commerce and Justice Departments.

House Republicans spent weeks earlier this year trying to overturn President Barack Obama’s executive actions from last fall that granted work permits and stays of deportation to millions of immigrants living in this country illegally.

The House efforts were unsuccessful, but Republicans have claimed success anyway, noting that the policies have been put on hold by a federal judge in a lawsuit by a group of states seeking to overturn the actions.