Obama sees early 2010 start on immigration reform

Ianus · 08-07-2009, 08:33 PM

It is good to see that they are still thinking about immigration reform,but any final bill in 2010 will require some arm twisting to get the necessary votes.

Quote:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday he expects Congress to overhaul the country's immigration system, an issue that fires up emotions on both sides of the political divide, by "early next year."

Speaking to Hispanic reporters at the White House, Obama said he hopes a bill for comprehensive immigration reform will be drafted by the end of this year.

Obama tapped Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on June 25 to work with Congress to speed up immigration reform as senators warned another failed effort could doom chances for a generation.

Obama said he asked Napolitano to meet regularly with lawmakers to systematically work through a number of controversial issues, such as how to handle the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States and how to prevent future illegal immigration.

"We have convened a meeting of all the relevant stakeholders, and Secretary Napolitano is working with the group to start creating the framework for a comprehensive immigration reform," the president said.

Congress failed in 2006 and 2007 to pass immigration reform despite a push by former Republican President George W. Bush.

Earlier this year, Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. economic slump and soaring unemployment made it a bad time to take on the issue.

Obama has been criticized for not following through on a campaign pledge to tackle the issue this year. He has urged the Democratic-controlled Congress to start pushing now to pass legislation.

Asked if an immigration bill would have enough votes to pass Congress, Obama said he did not know. He also noted as a further complication that next year is an election year.

Obama joked that his opponents had another reason to block his immigration reform effort: "There are many members of the Republican Party who think now that I am illegal immigrant," he said.

Anti-Obama activists have claimed that the president, the son of a Kenyan man and a U.S. woman, was born in Kenya and ineligible to be U.S. president.

jothesh2 · 08-07-2009, 09:00 PM

Don't worry guys. It might be a tough ride, but we can do it!

questionsihave · 08-07-2009, 09:08 PM

I'm going to take a few shots from the information I have gathered over the year.

1. President Obama has been pretty consistent on the timeline in regards to CIR. Expect a bill introduced in the two Houses in September 2009. Committee work will take place in the following months, and end with a floor debate sometime early next year with a vote on the bill. I would say April.

2. If the bill fails, I would expect Sen. Durbin to take action on the DA front.

3. I'm starting to think the House maybe more of a problem than the Senate, especially if the blue dogs act as they are doing in the current health care debate.

4. With the economy picking up, expect to hear more about immigration. I think job loss will be pretty low by November (only tens of thousands jobs loss), with job growth early next year. Setting a good environment for reform.

5. This is probably the best chance immigration reform has got. If it doesn't pass next year, I'm not sure what it would take to pass a bill.

Dreamer X · 08-07-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by questionsihave

If it doesn't pass next year, I'm not sure what it would take to pass a bill.

when michael jackson becomes black...or vice versa...

8-bitPanda · 08-07-2009, 11:37 PM

lol @ early 2010.

kenny1314 · 11:53 PM

2010 is harder to pass immigration issue, becuase it is another eleection year.....man...this is suck...since 2 year congress election and 4 year president election.....so the best time to pass is 2011......but who knows.........plus i have no idea why people say that immigration related to the economy.........immigration is money...you stupid..........

igopami · 08-08-2009, 12:23 AM

if CIR does fall through, i hope they push for DA to be a stand alone bill. its better to have a bird in hand than two in the bush.

unthinkable · 08-08-2009, 02:48 AM

Lets Get It On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

geronimo610 · 08-08-2009, 02:56 AM

it's always "next year..."

Mona Lisa · 08-08-2009, 04:35 AM

Obama is all talk

Like Madonna says "Dont explain yourself cuz talk is cheap."

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

August

Obama sees early 2010 start on immigration reform