By JENNIFER EPSTEIN
1/20/13 10:23 AM EST
politico.com

President Barack Obama should make immigration reform his first legislative priority in a second term and show that he isn't bluffing on the issue, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said Sunday.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, said on ABC's "This Week" that he expects the president to push ahead on gun control and climate change legislation, "both of which are nonstarters up on Capitol Hill and he knows it."

But if he "really wants to make a difference, he'll lead with immigration," Santorum said. "There's not a single Republican up on Capitol Hill who believes he wants to get it done. They all believe ... he will put [forward a] measure that the Republicans can't accept." When it fails to pass, Obama will "blame Republicans and then continue to drive a wedge between Republicans and Hispanics."

"If he changes that and if he changes that and says, 'No, I'm willing to actually work together and get something we can all agree on,' he will change the tone on Capitol Hill," Santorum said. "Don't expect it."

Santorum: Obama doesn't want immigration reform - POLITICO.com