FUNDING FOR IMMIGRATION LAWSUIT DEFENSE BLOCKED: The House on Wednesday voted 222-204 to include an amendment to the Department of Justice appropriations bill that blocks any of the Act’s funds from being used to litigate the defense of President Obama’s unilateral lawmaking executive action on immigration in the 26 state lawsuit, Texas v. United States. Judge Andrew Hanen has issued a preliminary injunction in that lawsuit, preventing some of the actions from going forward, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently refused to stay that injunction, pending the trial on the merits.

The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). Nineteen House Republicans–in mostly Hispanic districts–broke with party ranks to oppose the amendment.

It’s a good example of the House flexing its “power of the purse” muscle for a change, although the question remains whether DOJ will be able to use other funds to continue the litigation. And of course, the Senate has yet to act, and the President has threatened a veto.