Heitkamp Vote Doesn't Match Her Words On Immigration Or The Filibuster

Today the U.S. Senate took up legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security which contains a provision, passed by the U.S. House, to overturn President Barack Obama’s executive order granting de facto amnesty to certain illegal immigrants.

Democrats managed to filibuster the bill as it failed to get the 60 votes needed. Among those voting to filibuster?

North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp.

Which is sort of hypocritical for a couple of reasons.

First, Heitkamp supposedly doesn’t like the filibuster. Back when she was campaigning for the Senate she pledged to support legislation opposing the filibuster. As a Senator Heitkamp also voted to eliminate the filibuster for judicial nominees, voting with her fellow Democrats to bypass the 67-vote requirement for changing the Senate rules and making the change with a simple majority vote.

I guess things change when you find yourself in the minority party.

Second, Heitkamp has said previously that she opposes President Obama’s executive order. “I’m disappointed the president decided to use executive action at this time on this issue, as it could poison any hope of compromise or bipartisanship in the new Senate before it has even started,” she told Politico back in November. “It’s Congress’ job to pass legislation and deal with issues of this magnitude.”

Those are strange words for someone who to filibuster this legislation today.

But then, I think we’re learning that Heidi Heitkamp very often likes to say one thing and do another.

Heitkamp says she’s against filibusters, but then votes to filibuster stuff. She says she’s against Obama’s executive order on illegal immigration, but then she votes to keep it in place. She says she’s for bi-partisanship and reaching across the aisle and getting things done, but then votes with the rest of the Democrats to derail Republican-backed policy she’s claimed to support.

Maybe someone should ask her how she reconciles her words with these actions.

For the record, Senator John Hoeven voted to end the filibuster. Rep. Kevin Cramer voted to pass this legislation in the House.