Boehner: No immigration bill without GOP majority support

dtrt09 · 06-18-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

By Luke Russert and Carrie Dann, NBC News

House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that he does not “see any way” of bringing an immigration bill to the floor that does not have backing from a majority of the House’s GOP members, calling the border security provisions in the measure currently making its way through the Senate “weak” and “laughable.”

“I don't see any way of bringing an immigration bill to the floor that doesn't have a majority support of Republicans,” Boehner said during a press briefing with reporters Tuesday.

“I frankly think the Senate bill is weak on border security, I think the internal enforcement mechanisms are weak and the triggers are almost laughable,” he said of the bill drafted by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Jeff Flake. “So if they're serious about getting an immigration bill finished, they should reach out to their GOP colleagues to broaden support.”

Proponents of the “Gang of Eight” bill currently being debated in the Senate have hoped that – if it garners a strong bipartisan vote for passage in the Senate – Boehner would be under enormous political pressure to bring it to the House floor for a vote.

Republicans in the Senate, including Rubio, have pushed for additional border security provisions that could make their bill more palatable to the Republican-led House. But Democratic leaders argue that those attempting to make the bill’s “path to citizenship” contingent on the completion of stringent border provisions are hoping to derail the legalization process for undocumented immigrants.

On Tuesday, Boehner accused Democrats of seeking to sabotage the legislation.

I'm increasingly concerned that the White House and Senate Democrats would rather have this as an issue in the 2014 election rather than a result,” he said.

Last week, Boehner told reporters that he would not bring a bill to the floor that violates the “principles” of the Republican Party. His harsh description of the legislation Tuesday made clear that he believes the Senate bill as written would be such a violation.

House committees are currently working through individual pieces of immigration legislation that are less sweeping than the Senate bill. The lower chamber will convene a special conference to discuss immigration reform next month.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2...y-support?lite

So, are we being played by the Dems in the House and probably the White House too because if the House 'gang of 7' Gutierrez-led legislation is scheduled for a vote, since it originates in the House, does it have to have a majority of the majority to be held to a vote? No. But the House bi-partisan plan hasn't even been finished after FOUR years. Wow.

EditorInChief · 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2...y-support?lite

So, are we being played by the Dems in the House and probably the White House too because if the House 'gang of 7' Gutierrez-led legislation is scheduled for a vote, since it originates in the House, does it have to have a majority of the majority to be held to a vote? No. But the House bi-partisan plan hasn't even been finished after FOUR years. Wow.

When Durbin says only 60 votes are needed to pass the CIR in the senate, my interpretation of his words are:

1) As long as I can continue to shift the blame to the Republicans by having S. 744 stamped in the Democrat-controlled senate, I am happy!

2) As a Democrat senator, I do not care if the CIR becomes law. I hope it does not become law this time. --------As a Democrat senator, I would rather have the CIR as an issue rather than as a result in 2014.

EditorInChief · 06-18-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2...y-support?lite

So, are we being played by the Dems in the House and probably the White House too because if the House 'gang of 7' Gutierrez-led legislation is scheduled for a vote, since it originates in the House, does it have to have a majority of the majority to be held to a vote? No. But the House bi-partisan plan hasn't even been finished after FOUR years. Wow.

Nancy Pelosi is preventing the House CIR bill from being introduced.

Ianus · 06-18-2013, 01:05 PM

It's understandable as a career politician as Boehner wants to keep the gavel.I can see pro-immigrant groups being disappointed by this as it looks like a repeat of 2007.

Happyman0607 · 06-18-2013, 01:06 PM

Why is this such a surprise.. They politicize everything.. Whatever it takes for them to stay in office for long lol most of them don't give a shit if it passes or not. In the public eye they argue behind closed doors they laugh and congratulate each other

believethedream · 06-18-2013, 01:11 PM

Very disappointing news. Going to take a very strong push to get something done this year. But Boehner coming out against it hurts. Would like to see what he suggest instead, and actually lead with his own piece of legislation.

Lost Generation · 06-18-2013, 01:16 PM

Honestly I have no problem with stronger border security as long as they modernized the visa system to get here legally and of course following with streamline process of legalization for us

Neil · 03:00 PM

Not surprise to see this, did anybody actually think anything was going to get pass in the house? midterm elections are next year. Why risk losing your job for a policy you could care less about? this is why congress is so inept.

immigration truth · 06-18-2013, 03:31 PM

It's not exactly over yet, but the house will be one tough cookie to crack. I guess all any of us can do is just to wait and see. If this is 2007 all over again though and they once again ignore economic logic, I will have lost all faith in the United States. Then we'll all know for sure that its essentially a dysfunctional declining state.

dtrt09 · 06-18-2013, 04:03 PM

But this is exactly what happened in 2006-/2007: Senate bill moved and moved and moved to the right while the House focused on criminalization. Are the Senate Dems and House Dems and the White House holding them accountable?

Collective noooooooo.

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Boehner: No immigration bill without GOP majority support