Harry Reid punts on immigration

By MEREDITH SHINER & MANU RAJU | 4/13/10 6:15 PM EDT


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) backed away from a major push on immigration reform in the coming weeks, amid concerns that the issue may be too volatile for an election year agenda already packed with ambitious legislative plans.

The announcement came in the face of earlier indications from third-ranking Democrat Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that immigration could get done soon. Reid told thousands of activists during a rally in Las Vegas over the weekend that the Senate would act on immigration reform “now,” raising expectations among his Latino base that Congress would suddenly take up the politically charged issue.

But asked about the bill’s status Tuesday, Reid backed away from the pledge to act on it immediately.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Reid said. “We won't get to immigration reform this work period. We won't get to the Supreme Court justice this weekend. We have lots of things to do and I've spent most of the caucus today [discussing with my members] the things we have to do and how we're going to do them.”

The current seven-week work period ends right before Memorial Day, but others don’t think there’s a chance the bill will get done in the months leading up to Election Day.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the leading Republican negotiator over immigration reform, also said emphatically Tuesday that Congress won’t be able to pass a comprehensive bill this year.

“Immigration is going nowhere this year,” the South Carolina Republican said Tuesday.

Graham said President Barack Obama needs to spend more political capital and take a stronger lead if he wants a bill to have any chance of passing at all.

“After health care, people are risk averse around here,” Graham said. “If you’re a red state Democrat, you want to get into an immigration debate right now? I don’t think so.”

The majority leader told reporters after meeting with his caucus that he plans to focus on regulation reform, food safety, campaign finance legislation, long-term unemployment programs and potentially an energy bill.

But before Democrats can launch into their larger agenda, they are pressing to pass the pending short-term unemployment extension bill, which is facing heat from Republicans for what they believe to be a violation the Senate's "pay-as-you-go" rules.

Republicans plan to raise a point of order against the legislation, but talks are underway on how to resolve the pay-for issue even on the temporary bill, according to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) who was one of four GOP members to vote "yes" on cloture.

"I'm not supporting it unless it's paid for, so I will support the point of order against it," Collins said.

But Reid vigorously defended the Democratic position that the legislation deserves emergency status and asked Republicans to join his caucus in passing the bill.

"We're doing our very best. We're taking valuable time here in the Senate to protect the people that don't have lobbyists back here to lobby for them. These are people who have been out of work for a long time. We have never extended unemployment benefits except under emergency basis. And we can't do that now. It would set a terrible precedence for all emergencies," the majority leader said.

A Reid spokesman said Tuesday afternoon that Dems are working on a deal that would allow Republicans to offer "a handful" of amendments.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories...#ixzz0l1zY3Xyv


Why is Graham saying all of this stuff? He's getting on my nerves; the only things his negative comments are accomplishing is pushing away conservatives instead of drawing them towards reason. I thought he was on our side.

We should expect the bill to be in Senate after Memorial Day.

I see what he is trying to do, the president has been way too timid when it comes to pushing for immigration reform.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...id=ex_MtrxEMR9

The only time Obama talks about the need for immigration reform is before a Hispanic audience.