Senate Dems to block bill punishing 'sanctuary cities'

The Senate will hold a test vote Tuesday on legislation that would punish cities that fail to follow federal immigration laws and guidance, which many Republicans say is leading to preventable violence by illegal immigrants against Americans.

But Democrats are expected to block the bill from advancing.

The bill is authored by Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican who is running for governor and faces a potentially difficult Oct. 24 primary against Rep. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and two other Republicans.

Vitter's bill has received special treatment from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who elected to skip the committee process and "fast track" the measure directly to the Senate floor for a vote.

Vitter's legislation would withhold some federal funding and grants from sanctuary cities, which are defined in the bill as a state or local government that prohibits law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials.

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