THE WHITEBOARD

Inside the W.H. immigration meeting
Lawmakers -- including Sen. McCain -- dish to reporters on their closed-door session with President Obama.


A group of lawmakers who met with Obama on immigration spoke to reporters after leaving their session with the president. Here's what they had to say:

- Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.): "A great meeting...We think we can make great progress."

- Sen Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): "A real shot in the arm...He assured us that he would be very much involved...the left and right are going to have to give in some." More: if immigration reform is not passed this year or early next year, "we may not get to do it in a generation."

- Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.): "I felt this meeting is better than I thought it was going to be," adding that passing reform is "possible." Diaz-Balart said he asked Obama for his help to get a date on the floor this year. "The will is there and I think the votes will be there."

- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he emphasized border violence "and violence spills over into the United States of America." Said he can't support legislation that doesn't include a legal temporary worker program.

- Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) "It seems to me that the makings of a bill are there...Part of border security is a guest worker program...This is tough stuff." (3:49 p.m.)

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