FIGHTING WORDS

Obama Pushes Perry, GOP on Border Funds

Rejects demands to visit border.

President Obama called out Gov. Rick Perry and other Republicans for not supporting his proposed funding for the unaccompanied-minor crisis. In a press conference Wednesday during his visit to Texas, Obama blamed Republicans in Congress for criticisizing his formal request this week for $3.7 billion to improve border control and reform the deportation process. He rejected demands that he visit the border and instead accused Republicans of playing politics with unaccompanied minors. “The problem here is not major disagreement around the actions that could be helpful,” Obama said. “The challenge is: Is Congress prepared to act to put the resources in place to get this done? Another way: Are folks more interested in politics or solving the problems?”