Boehner rules out immigration reform this year
Washington (CNN) - If there were any doubts that comprehensive immigration reform efforts were dead on Capitol Hill this year, House Speaker John Boehner eliminated them on Wednesday.
Boehner repeated his long standing opposition to the Senate-passed immigration bill and his pledge the House would never vote on it, but he went a step further, drawing a bright line: "I'll make clear we have no intention ever of going to conference on the Senate bill."
Last week the third ranking House Republican, GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-California, told immigration reform advocates that there wasn't enough time left this year for the House to take up immigration reform. The House is in session 15 days between now and the end of the year.
After Republicans lost the presidential election in 2012 and Hispanic voters voted overwhelmingly for President Obama, Boehner said it was time for Congress to pass major immigration reforms.
"I think a comprehensive approach is long overdue. And I’m confident that the president, myself, others can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all," Boehner said in an interview with ABC News the week after the election.
Facing sharp divisions inside his conference on the issue, Boehner insists he still wants action but says any legislation has to be done in pieces.
"I want us to deal with this issue but I want to deal with it in a common sense step by step way," he said Wednesday.
A series of targeted immigration bills have passed the House Judiciary Committee - mostly focused on border security and enforcement - but GOP leaders have not scheduled any floor votes on any of them.
A significant bloc of House conservatives is adamantly opposed to any measure that provides a path to citizenship or legal status for the 11 million undocumented workers in the United States. So far, none of the House GOP proposals addresses that issue, but opponents worry that any negotiation with the Senate would ratchet up pressure on House Republicans to deal with questions of citizenship.
Boehner's statement Wednesday declaring no talks with the Senate on its bill was designed to put those concerns to rest.
The Speaker brushed aside a question of whether House GOP leaders were avoiding the divisive debate on immigration reform to focus on problems with the implementation of Obamacare.
"This is about trying to do this in a way that the American people and our members can absorb," Boehner said, adding immigration reform is too complicated to rush.
"There are hundreds of issues involved in dealing with immigration reform, and we've got to deal with these in a common sense way where our members understand what we're doing and their constituents understand."
Dumb. Nuff said.
Why is he still in office?
Why does Boehner always look like he's about to cry?
You made your bed, now sleep in it. That's some excellent minority outreach you got going on GOTP.
Republicans would much rather kill immigration now than let it become lingering part of the conversation in 2014.
LOL – well, it looks like they can take that remark ( the Quote ) that the bonehead made, to the bank, come 2016, with commercial time & ads of all sorts......
""I'll make clear we have no intention ever of going to conference on the Senate bill""
In other words, once the Voters finds out what he said, the Dems will end up executing that remark, when T.V. ads for the election comes around. (regarding immigration)
will the american people trust the democrats wil immigration 'refrom' as their their healtcare disaster is in full swing?!! no way!!! don't bother us with more of your incompetence and 'reform' that feels more like a royal shafting.
Because, like, why actually accomplish something? The GOP has raised doing nothin for America to a high art form. Running their 2014 and 2016 campaigns on "doing nothing" is going to be hard for the GOP- especially with the "success" they are having with their minority outreach.
What has this Congress done this year? Can someone please give me one thing they accomplished thats positive? What a bunch of worthless people. The are against entitlements, but its funny they are ENTITLED to their pay no matter what the get done. Pathetic losers!!!
A serious question – what problem are we trying to fix with immigration reform? What is it that everyone really, honestly wants with "reform"? This is a serious question and not a joke.
Oops.
No Senate for you in 2014, GOPhers. Bueno!
I'm sure he has more important legislation to complicated to rush !
Like Defeating the Golfball , cigaret and distilled spirit tax .
Only in America do we pay elected political leaders to do nothing .
Wow, these guys only have to officially work for 15 more days between now and the end of the year.
OUTREACH!!!
This, like the continuing resolution, is yet another Senate bill that the GOP/Teatrolls in the House are refusing to let anyone vote on BECAUSE IT WOULD PASS. There are 190 Dems who have pledged to vote for it and 28 GOPers who have said they would vote for it. So, yet again, we have the GOP/Teatrolls doing everything they can to prevent majority from ruling. let this sink in: the very reason they won't allow a vote on it is because it would pass. If it would fail, it would be up for a vote tomorrow, but no...the majority of the peoples' representatives would vote for it, and it would pass, so the GOP/Teatrolls won't even allow a vote on it.
NO AMNESTY and No pathway to US Citizenship for illegal aliens living in the United States. We all need to tell our Congressmen and Senators that we need our immigration laws enforced by the Federal Government. Deport all illegal aliens, secure the border and fine anyone who hires an illegal alien.
He even said this to two children of immigrants who approached him while he was eating breakfast this morning. The man is scum.
Hurry up and wait !
Just call it like it is, CNN...everyone knows what's up the GOP/Teatrolls' collective colon with respect to the Senate bill: they're afraid of who these people might vote for after they spend 13 years paying back taxes and fines and following the Senate's pathway to citizenship. It's. That. Simple. If polls came out tomorrow saying that illegal immigrants are showing a drastic reverse in party leanings, the GOP/Teatrolls would be pushing a pathway to citizenship like it's the next best thing since nullification via obstruction.
"This is about trying to do this in a way that the American people and our members can absorb," Boehner said, adding immigration reform is too complicated to rush.
In other words, you're asking us to work (how dare you) and we have no intention of ever doing that.
Translation: We are terrified of showing our true views about immigrants prior to an election in which we're depending on them voting for us.
So that brings the grand total of things the GOP WANTS to act on lately to (let me get my calculator) ZERO.
Wouldn't want hard work and legislating to interfere with their recesses.
Wow... I'm shocked by this news. I'm still waiting for all those "Jobs.. Jobs.. Jobs".
GOOD. No Ammesty Ever! Best news I've heard this year.
"Great." No reform needed, instead enforce our LAWS!