House negotiators laboring over final details of immigration deal

Ianus · 05-30-2013, 07:14 PM

Nothing really new as there doesn't seem to be any deal yet on the House side.

Quote:

House negotiators have spent the recess week trying to resolve the lingering differences standing in the way of a final immigration reform deal, a source familiar with the talks said Thursday.

The bipartisan immigration working-group reached a tentative agreement on almost every component of their proposed overhaul prior to departing for the extended Memorial Day break. That allowed congressional staff to spend the week drafting legislative language, which the eight members of the group plan to scrutinize before going public with their plan.

But before they reach that point, the working group will have to agree on whether illegal immigrants will have to maintain their own health insurance after being granted legal status. This is the only major issue left to be negotiated, the source familiar with the talks confirmed.

The four Democratic and four Republican members of the group had originally agreed to this provision, which is intended to ensure that millions of newly legalized immigrants do not end up accessing federal assistance and burdening taxpayers. But the Democrats balked late in the negotiations after their House leaders protested.

Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador, a key GOP negotiator, said last Thursday that he believed Democrats had dropped their opposition to the health care issue, which is somewhat of a deal breaker for the Republican members of the working group.

But the source familiar with the talks said that the matter was still being hammered out. Meanwhile, the bipartisan Senate bill to overhaul U.S. immigration is expected to hit the floor in that chamber the week of June 9, or after work on a farm bill is done.

The plan would probably be to clear the Senate immigration bill by the time Congress is ready to leave town for the July 4th recess, although such tentative deadlines are routinely missed on complicated and politically sensitive legislation.

DA User · 05-30-2013, 08:51 PM

So they are at final details which means we could have a bill this month?

Happyman0607 · 05-31-2013, 12:27 AM

Dear house of representatives... keep your lame ass bill to yourselfs and adopt the senates

- thanks

Rev_Scholar · 05-31-2013, 05:28 PM

^ If only.

dtrt09 · 10:59 PM

Anyone else noticed that TPS was extended for current beneficiaries for another 18 months until Spring 2015? The lastest addition was El Salvador; they join Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Sudanese in TPS extensions valid until early 2015. If CIR is to happen soon, why would would they extend it for 18 months? Why not 6? I'm suspicious. 18 months is a long time.

Coincidentally, HHS delayed the healthcare coverage rules for small employers until 2015 as well. Considering that the majority of undocumented individuals work for small business owners, this would affect CIR beneficiaries as well. Too coincidental.

desice · 06-01-2013, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Anyone else noticed that TPS was extended for current beneficiaries for another 18 months until Spring 2015? The lastest addition was El Salvador; they join Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Sudanese in TPS extensions valid until early 2015. If CIR is to happen soon, why would would they extend it for 18 months? Why not 6? I'm suspicious. 18 months is a long time.

Coincidentally, HHS delayed the healthcare coverage rules for small employers until 2015 as well. Considering that the majority of undocumented individuals work for small business owners, this would affect CIR beneficiaries as well. Too coincidental.

Easy to see coincidences when you look for them. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't... well shit.

dtrt09 · 06-01-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desice

Easy to see coincidences when you look for them. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't... well shit.

Nothing in politics is "coincidental".

freshh. · 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Anyone else noticed that TPS was extended for current beneficiaries for another 18 months until Spring 2015? The lastest addition was El Salvador; they join Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Sudanese in TPS extensions valid until early 2015. If CIR is to happen soon, why would would they extend it for 18 months? Why not 6? I'm suspicious. 18 months is a long time.

Coincidentally, HHS delayed the healthcare coverage rules for small employers until 2015 as well. Considering that the majority of undocumented individuals work for small business owners, this would affect CIR beneficiaries as well. Too coincidental.

I'd be a bit more worried if they'd extended it longer than that.

Remember DHS has six months under which to submit their border security plan and set up the application process (18 - 6 = 12). And someone correct me if I am wrong, but she can get up to six additional months, if needed. Besides that, there's no telling how long background checks are going to take to come back for CIR (or if that fails some sort of administrative relief program). DACA is six months max and we've seen people wait longer than that.

dtrt09 · 06-01-2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshh.

I'd be a bit more worried if they'd extended it longer than that.

Remember DHS has six months under which to submit their border security plan and set up the application process (18 - 6 = 12). And someone correct me if I am wrong, but she can get up to six additional months, if needed. Besides that, there's no telling how long background checks are going to take to come back for CIR (or if that fails some sort of administrative relief program). DACA is six months max and we've seen people wait longer than that.

Exactly. You realize this timeline means 2015 for legal authorization for most CIR beneficiaries, right? Two looooooong years. I think the test run for this was DACA and with the proper management, it shouldn't take that long to register people. In this age with the techonology use that is involved in everyday life, I can guarantee you that the proof needed to apply for legalization will be available to 90% of qualifying individuals.

freshh. · 06-01-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Exactly. You realize this timeline means 2015 for legal authorization for most CIR beneficiaries, right? Two looooooong years. I think the test run for this was DACA and with the proper management, it shouldn't take that long to register people. In this age with the techonology use that is involved in everyday life, I can guarantee you that the proof needed to apply for legalization will be available to 90% of qualifying individuals.

It shouldn't take that long, but this is USCIS we're talking about. They are always behind.

The only bright side is that if it passes before Labor Day*, we'll be more than half way to 2014. If Napolitano is ready and doesn't need the additional six months, then we're looking at March 2014 as the earliest point at which people can start applying. Some applicants could have their RPI cards by September of 2014.

*That's just my optimistic analysis. If CIR fails, the administration still has other options.

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House negotiators laboring over final details of immigration deal