(Photo: McCaskill Office)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican, said Tuesday that Senate Democrats are to blame for the delay in passing legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Blunt said he supported the bill – which passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives – that ties their opposition to President Barack Obama’s unilateral effort to defer deportations for millions of illegal immigrants to legislation to fund the agency.

“I agree with what the House did in terms of their desire, and what should be the desire of the Congress to hold the president accountable for something he said 22 times on 22 different occasions he couldn’t do,” Blunt told reporters here at the state Capitol.

Blunt added, “I don’t blame the Democrats for not wanting to defend the president’s statements… but that’s no excuse not to get on the bill.”

As Blunt was speaking to reporters, the Obama administration announced it would delay the implementation of his executive order after a Texas judge issued a temporary order to block the administration.

Democrats in Washington, including Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, have blocked debate over the bill citing their opposition to the immigration policy changes. On Tuesday, Representatives Ann Wagner, R-St. Louis, and Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, both sent letters to McCaskill calling on her to drop her opposition to the bill.