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."
And the republicanism marches on. Shut-down any and all attempts to accomplish anything, at all costs. Laws need to be passed that requires these idiots to at least be AT WORK other than federal holidays all government employees get, even if they don't get anything done. At their salary levels, its inexcusable that they only have 15 work-days until the end of the year. People with REAL jobs have 6 weeks.
He's not allowing a vote because he hasn't read the bill? That sounds so illegal it's should be considered treason. Boehner should be fired and arrested for fraud against the public.
Why hasn't he read the bill? He's getting paid by taxpayers to read legislative bills and vote on them. I'm sick and tired of Boehner's hateful anti-american, tea party communist crap.
We need to change the saying on the Statue of Liberty. That "Give me your weak..." just ain't cuttin' it anymore.
How 'bout if we change the Statue of Liberty to read "Stay Out!!! We Were here first!!!"
I'm glad that Native Americans were too stupid to pass immigration laws that kept MY ancestors out. Ha!! Ha!!
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Uncle Jerry is right. Imagine prices without cheap labor. A lot of people is looking for jobs, but do they want to do what these illegal immigrant do? Not sure.
It is not possible to reform Republicans. Once a mean white drunk, always a mean white drunk.
Deportation of all invaders is the only bill that should be considered.
The only reason Barack Hussein and his thugs want reform is that they vote for Democrats. Here is a solution, give them Amnesty but they can't vote for 10 years. Watch Obama drop this like a lead balloon!!! Obama's approval numbers are around 37%. He and the Thugs need these Illegals for the mid-term elections next year, otherwise with the way Obamacare is going, this might be a landslide for the GOP!
Oh what a surprise. After doing absolutely nothing since taking hold of the big gavel, now comes news that once again, we will do nothing. Just so tired of this nonsense!
Imagine a Repukican free Congress, coming soon to a Capitol Building near you.
There is no excuse for this BS.
The Party of NO at work. I would not expect anything otherwise.
This moron just keeps shooting himself and his party right in the foot. Congratulations on alienating the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States dummy!!! hahahahaha
Well, that's i:. No president for republicans in the next presidential elections. Thanks to Mr. Speaker of the House.
Immigration reform priorities: 1- shut down the drug tunnels and human trafficking industry 2- shut down the midwife birthing centers just this side of the border. 3- more surveillance to prevent sneaking in 4- amnesty for those here already
That is fine. Next year is close enough. Now that gay right have been established and are secured, immigration reform will be next. House and senate, enjoy your holidays, get some fun and relaxation and be ready to deal with all the nation's immigration concerns.
86 year4 old RINO OK you 20 or 30 members holding this up-do so at your peril! meanness now means DEMSFOREVER in a f3ew years
Hey, no problem GOP, it isn't a bill reducing taxes for the rich so don't bother reading it. Next.
Does leader of the House of Representatives have more power than the President of the US? I don't get it.
No movement on immigration, LGBT, or appointments.
Republicans: the tea party owns you.
However, they don't own the voters.
It's a rock and a hard place, but it's your rock and it's your hard place.
Good for GOP, Finally something I can stand behind. The Senate bill was all wrong. There shouldnt be a new path, there is already a path thats on the book, its a law. It says, you have to go thru the system, not break the law for years...You want to be a US citizen, Get out, and apply like the rest!
House of Representatives and the Senate go and enjoy your holidays, have some fun and relaxation, recuperate from an excruciating 2013 but be ready to deal with the nation's immigration concerns. Next year is soon enough, especially now that gay rights have been securely established and the Health Care Affordable Act has passed, we can wait to have immigration reform dealt with in 2014.
They plan on working 15 days out of 48 days between now and the end of the year? And you even wonder why you have 9% approval;? We are wondering how much family you have to even get near as high as 9%. What a waste of $174,000 a year. And you want to cut SNAP. Maybe you need 6 months on Unemployment insurance income only to see how the results of the Bush 2 Depression have to live.
So, Immigration Holocaust will go on….
My greatest fear is that the GOP starts becoming reasonable before the 2014 elections. Consistently saying NO to everything is what they should be measured on in 12 months.
Next year is soon enough to deal with Immigration Reform. Senators go and have some fun and relaxation during your holidays. Be ready to deal with the nation's immigration concerns during 2014.