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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he thought a lapse in Department of Homeland Security funding would make the nation less safe, telling NBC News, “If ands and buts were candy and nuts, everyday would be Christmas.”

“We passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security six weeks ago," he added. "Six weeks ago. It’s time for the Senate to act.”

Boehner’s dismissal of Johnson’s assertion comes after his Republican colleague Rep. Peter King (R-NY) told The New York Times. “People think we’re crazy. There’re terrorist attacks all over the world, and we’re talking about closing down Homeland Security. This is like living in the world of the crazy people.”