Congress threatens to shut down government over Syrian refugees

A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Nov. 30.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a news conference at the Green Valley Ranch resort in Henderson, Nevada November 16, 2015. Carson announced that he sent to a letter to Congress urging the termination of all public funding for the resettling of Syrian refugees into the U.S. REUTERS/David Becker - RTS7EUA
US Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a news conference in Henderson, Nevada, Nov. 16, 2015. Carson announced that he sent a letter to Congress urging the termination of all public funding for the resettling of Syrian refugees into the United States. - REUTERS/David Becker
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Julian Pecquet
@JPecquet_ALM

Republicans in Congress are threatening to shut down the government to keep Syrian refugees out of the country.

House lawmakers voted 289-137 Nov. 19 to suspend refugee admissions from Syria and Iraq amid fears that Islamic State (IS) terrorists could abuse President Barack Obama's plan to accept 10,000 Syrians over the next 10 months. Faced with a veto threat and recalcitrant Democrats in the Senate, House Republicans are now threatening a showdown over government spending to get their way.

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