News Wrap: House votes to block Obama’s immigration order

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• GWEN IFILL:

  House Republicans pushed through a bill today aimed squarely at President Obama's executive actions on immigration. Last month, the president shielded up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. But by 219 to 197, the House declared that step null and void.

  House Speaker John Boehner insisted that the Senate follow suit.

  REP. JOHN BOEHNER, Speaker of the House: For the outgoing Senate Democrat majority to do anything less would be an act of monumental arrogance. The American people elected us to heed their will and not to bow to the whims of a White House that regards the legislative process established by the Constitution as little more than a nuisance.

• GWEN IFILL:

  Despite that demand, there's little prospect the bill will pass the Senate.

  The president today said his opponents should think twice.

• PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

  The immigration issue is, I recognize, one that generates a lot of passion, but it doesn't make sense for us to want to push talent out, rather than make sure that they're staying here and…

  (APPLAUSE)

• BARACK OBAMA:

  … contributing to society.

• GWEN IFILL:

  The president made no mention of a possible veto, but the White House has threatened one if the House bill ever reaches his desk.

  The House also passed a defense spending bill today authorizing $585 billion and expanding operations in Iraq and Syria; $5 billion of the money will go for the fight against Islamic State militants. The measure also gives U.S. troops a 1 percent pay raise, and it again bans moving terror suspects from Guantanamo to the U.S. mainland.

  President Obama will name his choice to be secretary of defense tomorrow. The White House announced that today, without confirming that former Pentagon official Ashton Carter is set as the nominee. He would succeed Chuck Hagel, who's leaving after two years. Hagel wouldn't say today if he felt pressured to resign. Instead, he called it a mutual decision.

  In Yemen today, an offshoot of al-Qaida threatened to kill American hostage Luke Somers. The 33-year-old photojournalist was abducted more than a year ago, and had not been seen until today's video message. The White House confirmed that U.S. special forces had hoped to find Somers during a raid in Yemen last month.

• JOSH EARNEST, White House Press Secretary:

  As soon as the U.S. government had reliable intelligence and an operational plan, the president authorized the Department of Defense to conduct an operation to rescue Mr. Somers. Regrettably, when the operation was executed, Luke wasn't present, though hostages of other nationalities were present — were present and they were rescued.

• GWEN IFILL:

  The al-Qaida group today gave the U.S. three days to meet unspecified demands and save Somers.

  Gun battles rocked the capital of Russia's southern province Chechnya today. Unknown attackers stormed a building in Grozny, killing 10 policemen. Ten of the attackers also died in the ensuing clashes, while the building burned. Islamist separatists in Chechnya have been fighting to break away for more than a decade.

  Back in this country, thousands of low-income workers in the fast food, home care and airline industries staged protests, demanding a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Organizers said rallies and strikes were being held in at least 190 cities, making them the most expansive yet. The demonstrations were backed by major labor unions.

  Average premiums for people who bought health insurance through healthcare.gov will go up 5 percent next year. The Health and Human Services Department released the estimate today. At the same time, administration officials said many customers can save money if they are willing to shop around.

  On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 12 points to close at 17,900; the Nasdaq fell five points to close at 4,769; and the S&P 500 slipped to two to finish below 2,072.

  NASA's first test flight of the new Orion spacecraft was put on hold this morning. Gusty winds and a valve problem in the rocket that carries Orion scrubbed the launch attempt until tomorrow. Plans call for the spacecraft to eventually ferry people to Mars. The unmanned test flight is scheduled to last four-and-a-half-hours in Earth orbit.