Heavy Fall Agenda May Delay House Immigration Debate
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) also tapped down expectations for enacting legislation this year. He told the Journal there is nothing wrong with having a debate that doesn't lead to an immigration bill being signed into law. "We pass bills all the time that don't get passed all the way through and signed into law, because we want to spell out to the American people what we think the right solutions to our problems are," Rep. Goodlatte said. "I don't believe immigration reform should be any different than that." Rep. Goodlatte also said it is "too soon" to say what legislation the House will take up or what strategy may be used, and suggested there is no "artificial deadline" for action.
At home in their districts for August recess, House Republicans faced considerable pressure from constituents who oppose legalizing illegal aliens and increasing already historically-high levels of legal immigration. Business and other pro-amnesty groups also pressured Republican leaders and targeted Members. Rank-and-file Republicans are expected to report to leadership on the lay of the land when they return next week. However, amnesty advocates told the Journal that action may have to wait until 2014 unless Republicans reverse themselves and demand action now.
House Democrats working with a few Republicans on a comprehensive amnesty bill say it is finished but at least Republican in their group disagreed. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.) told the Journal that some of his Republican colleagues have asked for more changes. In particular, these Republicans oppose citizenship for illegal aliens that isn't available through existing legal channels. And since many Republicans doubt President Obama would enforce the bill's provisions, the bill must reduce his discretion before it will obtain Republican votes.
Before the August recess, a small percentage of House Republicans publicly said they would support citizenship for illegal aliens if certain conditions were met. Despite recess pressure from pro-amnesty groups, those numbers have not changed much. Given the stalled progress and time constraints, amnesty proponents may face a very difficult fall.
Read the Wall Street Journal for more information (if you have a subscription).