House Republicans divided on immigration reform

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

House Republicans divided on immigration reform

By Thomas Ferraro and Rachelle Younglai
WASHINGTON | Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:35pm EDT

(Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives emerged from an immigration meeting on Wednesday divided over whether to help the 11 million undocumented people living in the United States, but eager to bolster border security.

Several lawmakers said there appeared to be no consensus over calls for granting legal status to the 11 million, many of whom have lived in the United States for years, after a 2 1/2-hour closed-door session.

"We have a disagreement inside here," said Republican Representative Steve King, who guessed that his colleagues were split "50/50" on whether any of the undocumented residents should get legal status.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

The Republican lawmakers said there was consensus that the U.S. border should be secured further against illegal crossings and suggested that House Speaker John Boehner could seek passage of such a bill as a first step toward a larger agreement.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/11/us-usa-immigration-idUSBRE9690QD20130711

[WovenGems]

1. Sad

Congress would actually divide over whether two plus two equaled four or if it was a socialist conspiracy to undermine biblical teachings.

[geek tragedy]

2. Smart play for the Republicans is to do very little on immigration before 2014.

They'll pick up seats in 2014, Obama fatigue will really have set in, the President will have very little sway in Congress, and then they can negotiate from a position of strength. Doing something now will tear their party in two going into the 2014 elections.

The only potential downside to that strategy is if Latinos vote in historically large numbers in 2014, but there's no reason to think that'll happen.

[WovenGems]

3. The reason

You stated a good reason for the Latino vote to be huge.

[geek tragedy]

4. There's been a good reason for the Latino vote, and the vote of the poor, and the

young to be huge for multiple off-year election cycles.

Still waiting.

[WovenGems]

5. Expect

Facebook will light up as we near the election. Fear of a backslide will bring folks out. We still haven't forgotten 2010.