These bastards are worse than a house full of termites. House Republicans Work Immigration Behind Scenes WASHINGTON September 30, 2013 (AP) By ERICA WERNER Immigration overhaul legislation has been dormant in the House for months, but a few Republicans are working behind the scenes to advance it at a time the Capitol is immersed in a partisan brawl over government spending and President Barack Obama's health care law. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, has been discussing possible legal status for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. He's also been working with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a fellow Virginia Republican, on a bill offering citizenship to immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children. Reps. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, and Ted Poe, R-Texas, are working on a plan to create a visa program allowing more lower-skilled workers into the country. Goodlatte and the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, hold out hopes for floor action by late October on a series of immigration bills that already have passed their committees. "I would think that would be the next agenda item in the queue after we're done with this mess," McCaul said this past week, referring to bitter divisions over the health law, the level of government spending and the growing federal debt. The attention of House GOP leaders seems certain to remain squarely focused on the fiscal disputes until they are resolved, leaving immigration on a back burner for some time to come. But lawmakers and outside advocates insist that three months after the Democratic-led Senate passed a sweeping immigration bill, the issue is showing signs of life in the Republican-run House. "Despite the appearance that would suggest everyone in Washington is focused on one thing, work is going on on other issues beneath the radar," said Tamar Jacoby, head of ImmigrationWorks USA, a coalition of small businesses that supports comprehensive immigration legislation. Goodlatte has made it clear he wants to see the issue solved. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other members of the House Republican leadership also support a resolution to an issue that has become a political drag for their party. While Goodlatte has been outspoken about his desire to get legislation to the floor as soon as possible, House leaders have been more circumspect, adding to the uncertainty about whether or when anything actually will happen. "Moving immigration forward remains a priority, but right now there's no firm timetable," said Doug Heye, a spokesman for Cantor. The issue is a top second-term goal for Obama. House leaders have said they plan a step-by-step approach, in contrast to the comprehensive Senate bill that added billions of dollars in new spending on border security, remade the legal immigration system from top to bottom and created a 13-year path to citizenship for the millions living here illegally. McCaul's committee has approved a border security bill. Goodlatte's committee has signed off on legislation addressing a range of issues, including visas for high-skilled workers and enforcement of immigration laws. But so far, there's been no House GOP bill taking on the trickiest policy issue for Republicans: what to do about those already here illegally. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/house-republicans-work-immigration-scenes-20416325
Honestly, I am beginning to believe the only lasting solution will be to blow up the republican party and start over. If you are Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, half your republican senate colleagues hate you as much if not more than the democrats do. How can that last? The republicans have become increasingly beholden for money to groups that are directly opposed to their base. Big business, defense contractors, etc, a lot of them even support gay marriage, etc because their spoiled brat kids are gay. I just don't see how it can continue. Obamacare is a flash point because the big money, country club republicans don't want a government shutdown or other confrontation that will interfere with their govenment contracts or the financial markets. So there is a ton of pressure to fold. Guys like Cruz have independent sources of finance and their eyes on the big prize, so they don't care if they piss off the establishment republicans. The conservative base cares passionately about immigration reform and will be apoplectic if some form of amnesty passes. The establishment guys figure the base will get over it, and it's not like they have anywhere else to go. We'll see about that.
How is this selling out their supporters? The only supporters either party cares about are the businesses & wealthy individuals who want to hire immigrants and donate lots of money to the campaigns of these representatives.
"...plan to create a visa program" huh, they don't need no sticking visas. They just waltz across our open border anytime they want. And have been for decades now.
The Republicans are desperate to appear to be all in favor of legalization. 'Cause if they don't the Dems will get all the credit... and the votes. Disingenuous, at least.
Disagree. They also care about the parasite class... that's where their votes come from. Businesses and wealthy individuals will split their vote somewhere around 45-55 (not that it really matters... the "makers" are in the majority now), but the parasite class votes very heavily for the DemoCraps. Politicos want the votes of ne'er-do-wells and the money of anybody who has any remaining after paying the freight. We are likely "past the point of no return" on Socialism in America, sadly.
Whatdyasuppose Boehner and co are discussing in backrooms right now. - how to defund obamacare,or -how to get through this without defunding anything while making it look to conservatives like they were fighting the good fight. lol. we know
Sadly, you are probably right. They have other important business like sneaking through backdoor amnesty. Why aren't they raising cain over Obama suing all these states that have enacted voter ID requirements? Isn't that a winning issue for republicans? Most voters are used to having to provide IDs every time they turn around. They take voting seriously and would be appalled if they realized democrats are trying to make vote fraud even easier.