Do House Republicans have an immigration bill they could pass before the March 5 expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that would get President Donald Trump’s signature?

The answer to that question will become clear Wednesday as the GOP whip team conducts a formal whip check on the only House measure that has Trump’s backing. If the whip count is favorable, GOP leaders will bring it to the floor, a House leadership aide confirmed.


So it would need the support of 216 Republicans for leadership to decide to bring it to the floor.

That means no more than 22 Republicans could oppose it, a heavy lift on a sweeping immigration measure that goes beyond the four pillars that Trump has said must be included in any immigration measure Congress sends to his desk.

One GOP source said leadership is publicly whipping in favor of the bill but privately working against it. The House leadership aide refuted that characterization, saying they would not have held listening sessions on the measure if they didn’t want to find a way to get members’ support.

If the Goodlatte bill does not have enough votes to pass, the House may not have another bill to consider before the deadline. Speaker Paul D. Ryan has said he would only bring a bill to the floor if it has Trump’s support.

The House leadership aide said there are other routes for such a measure to materialize, like the Senate debate and the ongoing negotiations between the No. 2 congressional leaders. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, one of the No. 2 principals, said Tuesday those talks are on hold while the Senate debate plays out.

Whip team members were optimistic heading into Wednesday’s vote count on the Goodlatte bill.

“I think it’s going to whip positive,” Rep. Phil Roe said.

The Tennessee Republican said members have raised some concerns about the bill and what it does and doesn’t do, but Goodlatte has tried to make clear that it’s not a comprehensive measure that is meant to serve as the final word on immigration matters.

Roe said the Goodlatte bill is the only measure leadership is whipping at this time, and it’s presence as the only option seems to be registering with the conference.

“It’s what we’ve got, and we’ve got to get gong on it,” Texas Rep. Roger Williams, another whip team member, said. “If it’s got the support I think it does, I think we’d want to put it up there pretty quick, let the Senate know what we got.”

https://www.rollcall.com/news/politi...bill-wednesday

Fucking moderates better defeat this nasty bill.