Labrador: Leadership 'got us into this mess'

COEUR d’ALENE — Congressman Raul Labrador is no fan of leaders. At least not those in Congress.

One week ago, Congress approved legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security through September. Labrador voted against it, and was criticized by leaders and some members of the Republican Party for being “irresponsible” and putting the nation’s security at risk.

“It was leadership and the appropriators who got us into this mess,” Labrador said Tuesday in an interview with The Press editorial board. “They’re the ones who said that we should use the DHS bill as the fight.”

Republican leaders wanted to use money for Homeland Security to undo President Barack Obama’s executive action that extended deportation stays and work permits for millions of illegal immigrants.

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