Coffman Presses For BRIDGE Act Vote Ahead Of Trump Action On DACA

Colorado GOP Rep. Mike Coffman said Friday he has a different proposal: He wants to force Congress to vote on what's known as the BRIDGE Act. The measure would give the force of law to the deportation protections established by DACA, which was created by executive order five years ago during the Obama Administration.

"I don't think it's constitutional just to do it through an executive order. I think it has to be done through the Congress," Coffman told CPR News on Friday.

"What the Bridge Act does is it gives a three year extension of the DACA program. In those three years it's up to Congress to make a determination as to what a permanent solution is," Coffman said. "That's more than enough time to figure out the immigration reform piece. And so that's what I've done. And then when I head back on the 5th of September I will do a discharge petition to force that for a vote."

A discharge petition is a rarely-used procedural end-run around legislative leaders. If more than half of the House signs on, the BRIDGE Act will come up for an immediate vote, without going through a lengthy committee process.

Coffman says he's reached out to Speaker Paul Ryan and other House leaders as a courtesy but "I wasn't asking permission to do it, I was telling them what I'm going to do. The pressure has to be there."

Source: https://www.cpr.org/news/story/coffm...action-on-daca

He wants to give Congress THREe years to decide what a permanent solution 'would look like'.

No. The permanent solution is already filed and awaiting YOUR vote. Coward.

it will also leave out many people

It is, but no one knows if the DA has enough support to pass. A path to citizenship is a nonstarter for some Republicans.

We're literally on the brink of losing the program as a whole but somehow the BRIDGE act isn't good enough? I understand we all want a permanent solution but right now is not the time to get picky. If DACA ends on Tuesday without the opportunity to renew, 1,400 dreamers a day will lose their status and be at risk for deportation. If the BRIDGE act is all we can get right now I'll take it, and for those who oppose it then might as well return your permit now.

i agree. if ur in that position u arent really entitled to demand things. at least bridge act is a band aid for people who are lapsing

Exactly. This is a stop gap measure because people will expire daily, monthly.

Congress has a packed schedule.

I agree . We have to think about it this way, if we can get legislative protection even for short term, we are going to get permanent solution eventually

Also, if congress can't agree on anything permanent, bridge act will continue after 3 years. Let's hope they put this issue to rest in that time frame though.

I totally agree with you, my opinion is due to current anti-immigrant political climate, I don't think Dream Act or RACA will get enough support , keep in mind most of republicans opposes amnesty for us . Only few of them support us