Published May 08, 2008 11:02 pm -
TOPEKA, Kan. — Legislators failed to pass any immigration bill this year, but it’s an issue that’s not going away anytime soon.

Kansas: Immigration issue will be back

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. — Legislators failed to pass any immigration bill this year, but it’s an issue that’s not going away anytime soon.

The House and Senate each passed a bill viewed as a weakened version of what was introduced in each chamber. Negotiators reached agreement on a compromise but couldn’t sell it to the House, and the Legislature adjourned Wednesday night with no bill.

But the top two legislative leaders said Thursday it’s an issue that will keep coming back until Congress passes immigration reform.

The Legislature has a history of taking several years to deal with controversial and complex issues such as abortion, gambling, health care and school finance.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, who put immigration on his chamber’s priority list, sees it as one of those long-term issues.

“I’m sure we’ll be taking another bite at the apple next year, just like we will with education, which we do every year,â€