House Dem: Senate Immigration Bill Would Pass with ‘About 245 Votes’

Ianus · 08-06-2013, 02:55 AM

http://pjmedia.com/blog/house-dem-se...out-245-votes/

Quote:

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Rob Andrews told PJ Media that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should send the immigration bill that passed last month to the House for consideration.

“I think that he should and I think if he does that, that the speaker should let the majority work its will – put the bill on the floor, make an order of certain amendments – if people want to pass them they can; if they can’t, they can’t,” Andrews, the co-chairman of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, said on Capitol Hill before lawmakers left for recess.

“But I think a majority of this country and a majority of this Congress is clearly for this bill. It will do the country a lot of good and I think the speaker should let us vote on it.”

Reid has not forwarded the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which passed the Senate on June 27, to the House.

The legislation includes a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants illegally residing in the U.S.

House Speaker John Boehner has said the House would not take up the Senate-passed bill but instead work on its own step-by-step approach to immigration reform.

“I’ve made it clear and I’ll make it clear again, the House does not intend to take up the Senate bill,” Boehner said on July 8. “The House is going to do its own job in developing an immigration bill.”

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is working on an immigration reform compromise.

The Republican members involved in the negotiations are Reps. John Carter of Texas, Sam Johnson of Texas and Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida. The Democrats are Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California, Xavier Becerra of California, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

“We had an agreement once. And then, unfortunately, and I think it’s coming from the Democratic leadership and not from the group that I’m negotiating with, a deal that we had already agreed on and, again, I think it’s coming from Nancy Pelosi, we had to reopen the deal,” Diaz-Balart said in June.

“We had a second deal what was announced to the press, where we all announced, the bipartisan group, that we had reached an agreement in principle. On a second occasion, we had to reopen the same issue that had already been reached, where we had already reached an agreement on a second time. And, again, I think the problem that we’re running into is — is Nancy Pelosi. I’m not quite sure if she wants a bill.”

Andrews said he is not familiar with status of the House negotiations but predicted that the Senate immigration bill would pass in the Republican-controlled House.

“I don’t know about the bipartisan group, what they did, but I think the House leadership, Republican leadership, will and should put the Senate bill on the floor and let it pass,” Andrews said.

“I think if the Senate bill came up this afternoon, it would get a clear majority of the House, about 245 votes, and I believe the speaker should let the House work its will and put the Senate bill on the floor, let it be amended but let it pass.”

zone2oo0 · 08-06-2013, 04:41 AM

aaah wouldn't that be something? This legislation should be put up for a vote at least. It deserves a vote and no its not amnesty.

2Face · 08-06-2013, 06:50 AM

It just seems to me the Democrats have made the mistake of giving the Republicans some breathing room by toning down the momentum. I sure don't hope they're doing it deliberately to prevent CIR so they can use it in future elections. That would be tragedy. It doesn't look like the Republicans will cooperate. Might as well go for the full Senate bill.

freshh. · 08-06-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

It just seems to me the Democrats have made the mistake of giving the Republicans some breathing room by toning down the momentum. I sure don't hope they're doing it deliberately to prevent CIR so they can use it in future elections. That would be tragedy. It doesn't look like the Republicans will cooperate. Might as well go for the full Senate bill.

Hence, the ultimatum handed down by the New Democrat Coalition. They've given Boehner until Labor Day to introduce a bill and if not, they will introduce their own.

Ianus, if the bill has a certain number of co-sponsors, will Boehner be forced to bring it to the floor for a vote?

Ianus · 08-06-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshh.

Ianus, if the bill has a certain number of co-sponsors, will Boehner be forced to bring it to the floor for a vote?

The way how it has been explained to me in the past is that for popular bills Democrats and Republicans like to be paired up to showcase 'bi-partisanship',but I don't think the House Republican piecemeal process for immigration would really allow that and only a discharge petition w/ 218 votes could force a vote on legislation.Afaik,Past Dreamer groups tried doing the co-sponsorship idea before but it never amounted to anything under Hastert.

The thing is what would there be a discharge petition filed on?I believe the legislation may still be in the Senate[according to articles and thomas.gov and I believe Reid is keeping it there so it can't be potentially 'blue-slipped' by the House GOP.

For the moment,Rep. Gutierrez is doing the right thing as he is the point man for the Democrats and the problem is there is no one daring enough from the House GOP side who has stepped up to that same responsibility of wanting to get something done and to be public about it.I think going forward that is really what is needed as the timeline to get something done shrinks due to the elections.

freshh. · 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianus

The way how it has been explained to me in the past is that for popular bills Democrats and Republicans like to be paired up to showcase 'bi-partisanship',but I don't think the House Republican piecemeal process for immigration would really allow that and only a discharge petition w/ 218 votes could force a vote on legislation.Afaik,Past Dreamer groups tried doing the co-sponsorship idea before but it never amounted to anything under Hastert.

The thing is what would there be a discharge petition filed on?I believe the legislation may still be in the Senate[according to articles and thomas.gov and I believe Reid is keeping it there so it can't be potentially 'blue-slipped' by the House GOP.

For the moment,Rep. Gutierrez is doing the right thing as he is the point man for the Democrats and the problem is there is no one daring enough from the House GOP side who has stepped up to that same responsibility of wanting to get something done and to be public about it.I think going forward that is really what is needed as the timeline to get something done shrinks due to the elections.

So, then what is the point of the NDC's ultimatum? Discharge petitions only apply to upper chamber bills, right? And if there is no way around Boehner and the Hastert Rule, what are the options?

I blame the House group for this foolishness. They wasted a lot of valuable time.

Smooth · 08-06-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

It just seems to me the Democrats have made the mistake of giving the Republicans some breathing room by toning down the momentum. I sure don't hope they're doing it deliberately to prevent CIR so they can use it in future elections. That would be tragedy. It doesn't look like the Republicans will cooperate. Might as well go for the full Senate bill.

I think leaders of both parties are just being cautious in legislating on this issue, trying to garner or hold on to support from people who are typically anti-legalization zealots/supporters.

EditorInChief · 08-06-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zone2oo0

aaah wouldn't that be something? This legislation should be put up for a vote at least. It deserves a vote and no its not amnesty.

Harry Reid: Please DELIVER S. 744 to the House.

If you do not send the bill to the House of Representatives, they have NOTHING to work on.

EditorInChief · 08-06-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshh.

So, then what is the point of the NDC's ultimatum? Discharge petitions only apply to upper chamber bills, right? And if there is no way around Boehner and the Hastert Rule, what are the options?

I blame the House group for this foolishness. They wasted a lot of valuable time.

Harry Reid refuses to send the senate bill to the House. So the House has nothing to work on.

I do not think I like Harry Reid!

Ianus · 08-06-2013, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshh.

So, then what is the point of the NDC's ultimatum? Discharge petitions only apply to upper chamber bills, right? And if there is no way around Boehner and the Hastert Rule, what are the options?

I blame the House group for this foolishness. They wasted a lot of valuable time.

I have to say honestly I don't know,I could only speculate perhaps it isn't an ultimatum to Boehner but to the House Group of 7 to get something done by the date they've set.Boehner is not making an immigration bill after all and think it may just be politics on their side.The discharge petition can work on any bill if it has 218 votes,not just those coming from the Senate but it makes me wonder if that is what the NDC plans on doing.

Boehner and his self-imposed Hastert-rule isn't really the issue,but this really comes down to how the House rules function of 'the majority rules'.There might be a way,but none of it matters if the House GOP is not serious about solving the immigration issue and I will gauge that by how fair the 'Kids act' will or will not be.

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House Dem: Senate Immigration Bill Would Pass with ‘About 245 Votes’