Hoyer: House would 'address' immigration if Senate acts first - The Hill

JyArete · 04-16-2010, 08:34 PM

Here we go again - one side "blaming the other" if nothing gets done. Grr, too much talk! Not enough action! Just debate Immigration already!

Quote:

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Friday promised only to “address” any comprehensive immigration bill that manages to pass the Senate.

Hoyer’s caution and refusal to commit to putting an immigration reform bill on the floor if one passes the Senate casts further doubt on Congress' ability to make immigration reform a reality before the end of the year.

“The Senate has agreed to move this legislation first, and we think that's appropriate,” Hoyer said Friday in an appearance on C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers.”

“The Senate was unable to move a bill in the last Congress, and we'll see if they can move one in this Congress... But if they do, we will certainly address it."

Pressed on whether “addressing” a Senate bill would mean bringing it up for a vote in the House, Hoyer responded: “If the Senate passes a bill, as I said, the Speaker and I have both indicated we will address that bill.”

“If they act, we would be prepared to act,” he said a few moments later.

Hoyer was interviewed by The Hill, The New York Times and Newsmakers host Greta Brawner. The program will be aired on Sunday.

Knowing an immigration debate could deeply damage their ability to hold on to their majority ahead of the mid-term election, House leaders reached an agreement with their members, the White House and the Senate ensuring that the Senate would have to pass immigration legislation before the House would follow suit.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated a willingness to put a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill on the Senate calendar as early as this summer -- a move that’s designed, in part, to strengthen his own reelection chances.

Hispanic Democrats, primarily in the House, have become increasingly frustrated with what they believe are a string of false promises from their leaders -- including President Barack Obama -- to work to pass an immigration bill this year.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and, more recently, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), a member of the House leadership, have publicly aired that frustration, and with increasing frequency. The perception that their own leaders in the House are now backtracking on an arrangement made months ago in the face of Reid's seemingly very real desire to move an immigration bill could only inflame those frustrations.

Although House leadership aides recently acknowledged that Democrats are prepared to take on a much lighter and less contentious workload following their passage of healthcare reform, Hoyer said that the House would still have the energy to address immigration before November.

But Hoyer would not say whether he'd prefer to see the Senate act this year, or if he'd rather wait until next year to face the prospect of getting an immigration bill from the Senate.

“Senator Reid has indicated that he might be addressing this issue in the Senate as early as sometime this summer,” Hoyer said. “And that’s the judgment of the Senate, and we’ll certainly defer to Senator Reid in making that judgment.”

http://thehill.com/component/content...if-senate-acts

angeleno · 04-17-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JyArete

Here we go again - one side "blaming the other" if nothing gets done. Grr, too much talk! Not enough action! Just debate Immigration already!

http://thehill.com/component/content...if-senate-acts

I don't know how closely you've followed this issue, but based on your "here we go again" comment, it seems like not close enough is about right. This has been the position of the House for quite some time now. Just do a search in this very site and you'll see what I mean.

JyArete · 04-17-2010, 03:24 PM

I follow this issue very closely, thank you very much. And I know its been the position of the House, that the Senate always debate immigration first, as in 2006 & 2007. My point is that they tend to blame each other, when things fall apart. And why don't you use stop assuming what people know or don't know AND how they should be researching.

Quote:

Originally Posted by angeleno

I don't know how closely you've followed this issue, but based on your "here we go again" comment, it seems like not close enough is about right. This has been the position of the House for quite some time now. Just do a search in this very site and you'll see what I mean.

Feenmi · 04-17-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JyArete

I follow this issue very closely, thank you very much. And I know its been the position of the House, that the Senate always debate immigration first, as in 2006 & 2007. My point is that they tend to blame each other, when things fall apart. And why don't you use stop assuming what people know or don't know AND how they should be researching.

*gets popcorn ready*

JyArete · 04-17-2010, 11:18 PM

Nah man, I'm not going to reply anymore. Just wanted to post Dream Act/Immigration articles without getting attacked and/or put down. I think Feenmi, you post so much, you know how it feels when comments like that come your way.

Feenmi · 04-18-2010, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JyArete

Nah man, I'm not going to reply anymore. Just wanted to post Dream Act/Immigration articles without getting attacked and/or put down. I think Feenmi, you post so much, you know how it feels when comments like that come your way.

Awww, no fun!!! It's ok though, angeleno is A big softy...all bark no bite....unless you ask him to. But, NEVER EVER ask him to.....don't ask me how I know...

Annnnnyyyywwwaaayyy, I know what you mean about some comments. Most of the time I don't reply. I just post stuff that I find throughout the day that may be interesting to some people on here. I can't help it if people have sticks up their asses and get all riled up over an article. It's the same to me. Posting or not posting. It's nothing people can't find with a simple search.

warhound · 04-18-2010, 01:50 AM

I dont blame them at all.

Whats the point of taking a hard vote.. and then see the bill defeated in the senate ?!

You wont make any new friends but you will definately feel the wrath of tea party activists and other conservatives come election time

angeleno · 04-18-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JyArete

Nah man, I'm not going to reply anymore. Just wanted to post Dream Act/Immigration articles without getting attacked and/or put down. I think Feenmi, you post so much, you know how it feels when comments like that come your way.

If you don't like to be "attacked", then stop being an idiot.

angeleno · 04-18-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feenmi

Awww, no fun!!! It's ok though, angeleno is A big softy...all bark no bite....unless you ask him to. But, NEVER EVER ask him to.....don't ask me how I know...

Sorry, next time I promise no teeth

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Hoyer: House would 'address' immigration if Senate acts first - The Hill