It is probably best that I don't comment on this article.

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Immigration to bring together Hispanic lawmakers at White House


By SUZANNE GAMBOA, The Associated Press
Apr 20, 2007 6:17 PM (16 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 80 of 5,564
WASHINGTON - Democratic and Republican Hispanic lawmakers, who parted ways 14 years ago over political differences, are linking up to lobby President Bush on a sweeping House immigration bill.

The meeting on Wednesday afternoon at the White House will be the first time the Hispanic lawmakers have formally put aside political differences to join together on an issue. They requested the meeting with Bush.

"It's easy on both sides to take the political side and say we are not going to do this. It's easy to say on the Democratic side, 'We're not going to give president any victory.' This is not about victory. This is about 12 million people, human rights and humanity," said Rep. Joe Baca, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who initiated the bipartisan White House meeting.

Several Hispanic lawmakers have signed up as co-sponsors to the House immigration bill sponsored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat who is Hispanic, and Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

"We believe it's important that we all work together if we really have the interest of 12 million and some immigrants in mind," said Luis Fortuno, who represents Puerto Rico in the House and chairs the Republican Hispanic Conference.

Baca said the three Hispanic senators, Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Ken Salazar, D-Colo. and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., also have been invited to the meeting.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus used to be bipartisan but in 1993 several Republican lawmakers broke away. Republican Hispanic lawmakers and members of Portuguese descent formed their own group in 2003.

Bush has been pushing for a comprehensive immigration bill but movement on any legislation has been slow as the White House and supporters try to build support for some of the main concepts Bush wants.

The president backs allowing illegal immigrants to legally work in the U.S. and meeting certain requirements like learning English and paying fines to eventually become permanent legal residents.

The president also supports bringing in workers from abroad to fill jobs, at least temporarily.

"We hope that at least we can get the bill and get it into conference. But the idea is to get it," Baca said. "We have support on both sides. We need the president to send a powerful message and say, 'Hey, look, I want it done.' "

Baca and Fortuno said the meeting will be only on immigration, but they hope to work together in the future on other issues that benefit the estimated 45 million Latinos in the country.

"We will have differences in certain areas and on certain issues, that's the nature of the beast," Fortuno said. "But as representatives from our community, there are certain issues we see eye to eye on and it makes sense to work together on those issues."

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