House Democrats get immigration briefing

Ianus · 04-24-2013, 04:29 PM

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...ing-90579.html

Quote:

House Democratic members crafting a bipartisan immigration bill briefed fellow Democrats on Wednesday.

It’s the first time that the secretive negotiators had formally informed the rest of the House Democratic Caucus on their efforts.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who has been very tight-lipped on the group’s efforts, told fellow House Democrats that “the secret group is not so secret anymore,” according to a source. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) stressed that the House package would be a compromise, with provisions that not everybody would like. Still, Gutierrez said it would be a “real opportunity” to pass reform, the source said.

The lawmakers also distributed a memo that included an array of recent polling indicating broad support for a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living illegally in the U.S. That provision is likely to be the most contentious during the immigration reform debate.

“The message is clear: The American people are looking for their leaders to fix what is broken and for those who are in our country without papers to show a commitment to America and contribute to its success,” the memo reads.

The briefing to House Democrats could be a signal that the under-the-radar House group — which had met on and off for roughly four years — is nearing a deal. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) told reporters Wednesday morning that the eight negotiators “continues to work well,” though he questioned the broader House Republican Conference’s commitment to reform, saying they were “getting tied up in knots” on how to proceed.

Still, “our group continues to work [and] continue to deal with the unresolved details,” Becerra told reporters.

The eight House negotiators include Democrats Gutierrez, Lofgren, Becerra and Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky; and Republican Reps. Sam Johnson and John Carter of Texas, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Raul Labrador of Idaho. They first formally disclosed their negotiations in a statement last week, though their talks were no secret in Washington.

The House immigration negotiators have kept their leadership in the loop, and have briefed members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. In various meetings, House Democrats have also heard from various experts in immigration policy, as well as pollsters and messaging gurus.

They include: Frank Sharry, the executive director of America’s Voice; Drew Westen, an Emory University professor and Democratic messaging expert; Angela Kelley, vice president of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress; Doris Meissner, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute; Karen Narasaki, a past president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center; and Alan Jenkins, the executive director of The Opportunity Agenda.

Sonawabich · 04-24-2013, 04:33 PM

One thing I learned from years of witnessing immigration/dream act procedures is that I will never EVER vote for a Republican. And if I have the power I will NOT allow anyone I can influence to vote Republican.

IamAman · 04-24-2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonawabich

One thing I learned from years of witnessing immigration/dream act procedures is that I will never EVER vote for a Republican. And if I have the power I will NOT allow anyone I can influence to vote Republican.

I have sworn this too but I will at least have an open mind towards any Republicans that stand by this bill such as the ones in the gang of 8, especially those who stand up to the racist wing of their own party. I know we're all angry at all the years' of abuse and dehumanization but parties change. In the old days it was the Democrats who were the racists. If we say point blank we won't ever vote for ANY Republican then we are playing into Rush Limbaugh's hand.

I think for the near future though there are 90% of Republicans that I would never ever vote for - probably 99% in the local level. in 20 years, the landscape will be much different. I'd love to have the ability to tell my kids that they should vote for the best guy, but never forget the past.

2Face · 04-24-2013, 04:38 PM

Oh God I really hope the Senate passes the bill quickly and sends its version to the House. I have my doubts regarding the House conservatives. They will look to delay this bill as much as possible. Delaying is the only way they can kill it.

brucewayne · 04-24-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonawabich

One thing I learned from years of witnessing immigration/dream act procedures is that I will never EVER vote for a Republican. And if I have the power I will NOT allow anyone I can influence to vote Republican.

i honestly hope you don't become an american citizen if that's the way you look at the republicans.

pavpatel · 04-24-2013, 04:44 PM

why not? explain yourself fool.

Sonawabich · 04-24-2013, 04:57 PM

If I see a Democrat whom I don't agree with massively, I will just not vote at all. But I will always vote Democrat. Whatever happens.

IamAman · 04-24-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucewayne

i honestly hope you don't become an american citizen if that's the way you look at the republicans.

That's not a nice thing to say. There are many life Republican and life Democrats. Freedom means being able to choose.

Tonyhasadream · 04-24-2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonawabich

One thing I learned from years of witnessing immigration/dream act procedures is that I will never EVER vote for a Republican. And if I have the power I will NOT allow anyone I can influence to vote Republican.

Don't say all of that just yet lol if anything we need to make them think we are going to be republicans until CIR passes.

dtrt09 · 04-24-2013, 09:34 PM

Why the hell is this news?

House Dems get "brief" where other House Dems tell them House Repubs are stalling reform. Who does not know this?

That is the brief? Slipping bits of "info" like this to the gullible masses is a way to pretend to do something to calm people down. Oh, my God, am so, so, tired of the bullshit. From all of them.

In other, actual news, Obama will soon break the 2 million deportations mark. HuffingtonPost's "The Departed"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3079851.html

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House Democrats get immigration briefing