Obama warns governors DHS shutdown will impact states

President Obama on Monday warned state governors that the looming Homeland Security shutdown could have a direct impact on local economies, casting it as the latest of the “manufactured crises and self inflicted wounds” bogging down Congress.

“Unless Congress acts, one week from now, more than 100,000 DHS employees, border patrol, port inspectors, TSA agents, will show up to work without getting paid,” said Obama during a White House speech to the National Governors Association.

{mosads}”They all work in your states. These are folks that, if they don’t get a pay check, will not be able to spend that money in your states.”

The White House is ramping up its warnings with Congress facing a Friday deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security before its cash runs out.

Republicans want to use a funding bill as a vehicle to halt the president’s recent immigration executive actions, but Democrats aren’t backing that proposal and instead are calling for a clean funding bill. 

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday that a Department of Homeland Security shutdown might be in sight, as he’s not confident that Congress will pass a funding bill before the Friday deadline.

“That does seem to be where we are headed, and that’s disappointing,” Earnest said.

“But hopefully, maybe after spending a week at home, or wherever Congress has been for the last 10 days, that they’ll have a chance to clear their heads and maybe come to their senses, even. And as long as they are collecting a paycheck, they might as well do their jobs.”

The funding fight wasn’t the only issue on Obama’s mind Monday, as he also highlighted the bipartisan group of governors that agreed to extend Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

“If your state isn’t one of the 28 that’s expanded Medicaid, I’d urge you to consider it, because our team is prepared to work with you to make it happen,” Obama said.

“Because some of you may not always agree with my approach or policies, I think we can all agree that it’s a good thing when a family doesn’t lose a home just because a member of that family gets sick.”

Obama also used the appearance to needle some of the governors who are weighing a 2016 run to replace him. Govs. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), Scott Walker (R-Wis.), Bobby Jindal (R-La.), John Kasich (R-Ohio), and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) are all thought of as potential candidates for president. 

“I’m in the fourth quarter of my presidency,” Obama said, “or as some of you might call it, the kickoff to your campaign season.”