Thread: Senate head: Immigration reform won't go away

Published: April 16, 2010
Updated: 7:17 p.m.

Senate head: Immigration reform won't go away

By DENA BUNIS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
dbunis@ocregister.comStory Highlights

Harry Reid has a message on immigration: If reform doesn't happen this year don't blame him.

In recent days the Senate Majority Leader's words on this confrontational issue have been sliced and diced. The senator who most political analysts believe is in a tough re-election fight for his political life made it as clear as he could this week that he wants to bring a comprehensive bill to the floor "this year.''

"This is not an issue that's going to go away,'' Reid said Thursday after attending a meeting with Latino lawmakers from around the country. "I know there are people who simply want it to go away. I'm not going to allow that to happen.''

The latest reading of political tea leaves on immigration began last weekend when Reid was campaigning in Las Vegas. He promised a rally of pro-reform activists – mostly Latinos - that he would bring immigration to the Senate floor.

"We're going to come back, we're going to have comprehensive immigration reform now," he said first. Then he quickly followed up by saying: "We need to do this this year...We cannot wait."

He even went so far as to anticipate the question that with a Supreme Court nominee expected to take up time soon in the Judiciary Committee - the same panel that would have to work on immigration – is reform doable this year?

A Supreme Court confirmation shouldn't be used as an excuse to put aside immigration, he said in Las Vegas.

So far so good.

Cut to Tuesday on Capitol Hill. That's the day when senators in both parties meet for lunch. Afterward Reid typically meets with reporters.

At that post-lunch briefing, Reid said that they wouldn't be getting to immigration "during this work period,'' meaning it wouldn't be on the radar between now the Memorial Day, the next congressional recess.

No one in their right mind could possibly have believed that immigration would get to the floor by May. And even though Reid started his promise at the rally by saying it would happen "now,'' it was the "this year" comment that he's standing by. And even that is totally ambitious

Reid called the reports that followed that said he was backing away from immigration "inane, wrong and unfair."

Despite Reid's insistence, getting immigration reform passed this year – even if it's just in the Senate – is a long shot at best.

If you think health care was a hot-button emotional issue, immigration has the potential to be that times two.

The two issues do have some things in common.

Just as he promised to tackle health reform, candidate and President Barack Obama has made repeated promises to Latino audiences to push for a comprehensive bill.

Just like health care he has held White House meetings on the subject, including ones with many of the stakeholders.

When First Lady Michelle Obama was in Mexico the other day she brought it up.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a National Press Club luncheon this week that laws like the one just passed in Arizona that would basically make people carry their proof of legal U.S. status with them day and night point out the need for reform.

The Arizona bill – not yet signed by the governor - makes it a misdemeanor for someone not to have their immigration status documents with them. And police would be able to stop and ask to see that proof if they had a "reasonable suspicion'' that the person is an illegal immigrant. The Arizona law, Napolitano said, "doesn't strike the balance we need.''

There are some major differences between health care and immigration as issues.

The health care debate did not have an ethnic component. What happens to our health care system affects virtually every American.

Immigration has a smaller universe of people directly affected. And while advocates hope the growing clout of Latino voters will make this a higher priority issue for politicians, polls show it is still not the kind of top tier issue for the average American that health care was.

Here's the core question. Will Obama and the Democrats use the kind of political capital they spent on health care for immigration reform?

We have yet to see.

The White House did get some criticism for letting the health care process linger as long as it did on Capitol Hill. Critics said Obama should have spelled out sooner what he would and wouldn't accept.

So far it looks like the White House is going to again be content to have a bill come from lawmakers.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who chairs the immigration subcommittee says he's working on a bill.

His partner in this has been the only Republican willing to step forward and support a comprehensive overhaul – Sen. Lindsey Graham of North Carolina. Schumer and Graham did review their framework for a bill with Obama. So there is some back and forth there.

But Graham warned during the waning days of health reform debate that if the Democrats acted despite unanimous GOP opposition that it would kill any chances for immigration reform this year. That didn't help breathe life into an issue that was already going to be difficult for proponents to advance.

Some saw Graham's threat as posturing. They said he was trying to get back into the good graces of his fellow GOPers, many of whom see him as a bit of a traitor for playing with the Dems. And the vast majority of Republicans oppose what he and Schumer are trying to do.

Graham repeated his analysis on Tuesday, soon after Reid said the issue wouldn't be coming up this spring.

"Immigration is going nowhere this year," Graham told reporters.

We'll be watching.

Bunis is the Register's Washington bureau chief

Contact the writer: (202) 628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 7706.story

This is not an issue that's going to go away,'' Reid said Thursday after attending a meeting with Latino lawmakers from around the country. "I know there are people who simply want it to go away. I'm not going to allow that to happen.''

Yeah...well that's why you and those who support this issue need to go away! That's going to happen very soon you traitor!

So long Harry! You are a short timer, since your next election is already over.

Dixie

"Immigration reform won't go away"

Yes it is Harry, it's going home with you to Nevada so you can give it a proper Vegas style burial somewhere in the desert never to seen or heard from again.

Behind the scene Pro-IA forces are pushing a few Republicans they think will change their vote if put under enough pressure and BooHoo stories.The 3 I know are being courted is Baucus,Brown & Lemeiux (my senator).

So stay alert cause if even one of these senators turns,imo, they will try to push Amnesty through this year.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a National Press Club luncheon this week that laws like the one just passed in Arizona that would basically make people carry their proof of legal U.S. status with them day and night point out the need for reform.

No it doesn't Janet you moron. It shows the need for enforcement of immigration laws your own federal department is failing to do with any satisfactory results. Why else does Arizona have to take this up?

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Behind the scene Pro-IA forces are pushing a few Republicans they think will change their vote if put under enough pressure and BooHoo stories.The 3 I know are being courted is Baucus,Brown & Lemeiux (my senator).

So stay alert cause if even one of these senators turns,imo, they will try to push Amnesty through this year.

True that!

Originally Posted by ShockedinCalifornia

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a National Press Club luncheon this week that laws like the one just passed in Arizona that would basically make people carry their proof of legal U.S. status with them day and night point out the need for reform.

No it doesn't Janet you moron. It shows the need for enforcement of immigration laws your own federal department is failing to do with any satisfactory results. Why else does Arizona have to take this up?

Exactly.