Over at Talking Points Memo, something of a panic button was pressed today because of House GOPers insisting they won't consider a path to citizenship.
"Not much noticed, this is the big story of the day – the one that shows immigration reform is going to be much tougher than people think."
http://editors.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/02/the_big_story.php?ref=fpblg
I think Josh is pushing the panic button a little too soon. Here is the "big story of the day."
"House Republicans “are not going to be able to vote for” a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a key GOP voice in the debate said Thursday."
“The people that came here illegally knowingly — I don’t think they should have a path to citizenship,” Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID), a tea party star and former immigration lawyer, said on NPR. “If you knowingly violated our law, you violated our sovereignty, I think we should normalize your status but we should not give you a pathway to citizenship.”
"Under Labrador’s proposal, which reflects a middle ground sought by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, undocumented immigrants would receive a visa that allows them to live, work and travel in and out of the United States, but without the right to vote or become a green card holder or citizen."
“Some people are calling it a blue card or a red card,” said the conservative Latino congressman. “I think we should treat them with dignity, but we should also be fair to millions of people that are waiting in line, that are trying to do it the right way. … We have a large majority of the House of Representatives that wants to do something right now.”
"His position was echoed Tuesday by House GOP lawmakers on the key Judiciary Committee, who signaled openness to providing legal status to the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally, while characterizing the idea of eventually granting them citizenship as “extreme.”
That stance breaks with not just President Obama and Democrats but also Senate Republicans, particularly Sens. Marco Rubio (FL), John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC), who have backed a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants if they pass a background check and pay a fine and back taxes. Polls show broad support for the idea."
"Rubio this week defended his approach as “humane” and said it “respects the rule of law.”
Fifty-six percent of Americans want to offer illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, according to a Quinnipiac survey released Thursday. Just 10 percent say they should be allowed to stay but not apply for citizenship, and 30 percent say they should be forced to leave."
"Some immigration reform advocates rule out anything less than eventual citizenship."
“I think it would be wrong for us to create a permanent underclass of people who live in this country who never can reach American citizenship,” said Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL). “I want them to have all the responsibilities and obligations that come along with American citizenship.”
“Not only is second-class status a bad policy option, it’s bad politics for the GOP,” s
aid Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigration America’s Voice. “It tells Latino, Asian, and immigrant voters that their loved ones are good enough to cook for us, clean for us, and take care of our children, but they can never become one of us.”
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/raul-labrador-pathway-citizenship-immigration.php?ref=fpblg
I don't think it's as bad as Josh thinks. When Labrador says "House Republicans" aren't going to be able to vote for a path to citizenship does he mean that literally not a House Republican will vote for it? That I very much doubt, particularly as there is so much support in the Senate.
It may be that a majority of Republicans won't vote for it, but that's ok. We don't need a majority of Republicans to vote for it, just a minority of as small as 20 something-like which voted for Sandy aid. Again, as I've made the point about previously, this year's House while superficially strong Republican is much different from the last. The reason for this is the absence of the Hastert Rule. All we need is the minority we received for Sandy and the fiscal cliff.
The real question is would Boehner refuse to allow a bill with a path to citizenship up to a vote? I say no way. Again, the House GOP admits it will have to do immigration reform, but like the past skirmishes since the election-all of which they have caved-they have to give the base the appearance of putting up a fight. During negotiations it's not anything to worry about that the GOP is saying they won't do it now. Between the House and the Senate approach they'll be a meeting in the middle. My guess is it will be much closer to the Senate approach. I expect there will be a path to citizenship but the House can't say so now. They have to put up a good show for the base-some really won't vote for it. But as long as it goes up to a vote, it passes.
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