Saint Louis, Mo. — Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt has taken the lead in the Senate on opposing President Obama’s executive order granting legal status to thousands of undocumented immigrants bypassing Congress.
“On more than 20 occasions, President Obama said he does not have the authority to take the executive action that he announced tonight. The president still does not possess that authority today,” Blunt said last month. “Missourians don’t want executive amnesty — they want President Obama to focus on growing jobs and to listen to their concerns. The president cannot ignore the law, and Congress will act in response to the president’s executive over-reach.”
Blunt was joined by Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to combat President Obama’s November announcement that he would be taking action on immigration using executive orders.
Blunt even voted in favor of Senator Cruz’s point of order that called the president’s actions unconstitutional.
“I voted with Senator Cruz this weekend to show my disapproval for the president’s executive amnesty,” Blunt said at the time. “And I am proud to co-sign this amicus brief with Senators Cruz and Cornyn against President Obama’s lawless immigration power grab. As Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate next year, I will continue to fight against this administration’s blatant disregard for the law and the Constitution.”
Conservatives have been very vocal in their support of his stance.
“Obviously conservatives want to see the constitution followed and Senator Blunt is absolutely right to stand up to executive action and I think the people of Missouri especially all of the conservatives in Missouri will stand behind him,” said Robert Knodell, partner at Barklage & Knodell.
In the days leading up to the announcement, Blunt encouraged voters to call the White House or communicate through one of its various social media accounts.
Since that announcement on Nov. 20, Blunt has hardly missed a chance to confront the President – even calling his moves “dangerous” and even “illegal.”
Blunt joined an amicus brief led by Cruz and co-signed by Cornyn in support of a lawsuit brought by the State of Texas against President Barack Obama’s illegal amnesty. The brief is also co-signed by a number of members from the U.S. House of Representatives
In addition to Blunt, Cruz, and Cornyn, the brief was signed by U.S. Representatives Diane Black (Tenn.), Dave Brat (Va.), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), John Fleming (La.), Randy Forbes (Va.), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Trent Franks (Ariz.), Bob Goodlatte (Va.), Trey Gowdy (S.C.), Morgan Griffith (Va.), Vicky Hartzler (Mo.), Tim Huelskamp (Kans.), Mike Kelly (Pa.), David McKinley (W.Va.), Jeff Miller (Fla.), Alan Nunnelee (Miss.), Pete Olson (Texas), Ted Poe (Texas), Bill Posey (Fla.), Tom Price (Ga.), Phil Roe (Tenn.), Adrian Smith (Neb.), Lamar Smith (Texas), and Rob Wittman (Va.).
Not all of his constituents are please by his aggressive stance on the issue. Up and coming House member Jeremy Lafaver (D-Kansas City) feels that Blunt’s conservatism is out of step with his constituents.
“I think the Senator’s statements on immigration are far more conservative than how mainstream Missourians feel,” LaFaver said.
Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis City) agreed.
“Roy Blunt has been very successful in winning elections, but that is mostly because voters have overlooked his extremely conservative voting record. His opposition to the president’s executive order is just another example of that.”
Those are not the views being vocalized by conservative activists.
“Missourians have had it with President Obama and his illegal federal overreach. We are truly blessed to have a true conservative like Roy Blunt fighting for our conservative values in Washington,” said longtime Scotland County Republican activist Ron Alexander.
Blunt has also stated that this fight isn’t over.
“As Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate next year, I will continue to fight against this administration’s blatant disregard for the law and the Constitution.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
