House Republicans consider their own immigration plan

[alp227]

Source: LA Times

WASHINGTON — In a potential breakthrough for long-stalled immigration legislation, House Republicans will consider a proposal this week that would allow millions of immigrants in the country illegally to gain legal status and, in some cases, to eventually become citizens.

House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio is expected to issue a list of broad immigration "principles" to fellow Republicans during a three-day retreat that begins Wednesday at a Chesapeake Bay resort. For the first time, the list will include a narrow path to citizenship as well as tighter border security and new visas for foreign workers.

President Obama will make his case for immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech Tuesday, with particular emphasis on the economic benefits of reform on the middle class, aides said. He has said he's open to Republican proposals as long as they include citizenship opportunities for undocumented immigrants.

A senior administration official said Monday that the White House remained "cautiously optimistic" about prospects for moving an immigration bill, or series of bills, through Congress this year.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gop-immigration-20140128,0,5729206.story

[DocMac]

1. Bullshit! nt

[pampango]

2. Will be interesting to see how the "immigration reform is amnesty" republicans react to this.

Republican strategists think taking action on immigration will help GOP candidates appeal to Latino and Asian American voters on other key issues, including taxes and abortion. Those voters overwhelmingly cast ballots for Obama in 2012.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), who worked with Republicans last year on immigration proposals, said if Republicans created impossibly onerous requirements for citizenship, or authorized local jurisdictions to enforce federal immigration laws, those could be "poison pills" for Democrats.

Eliseo Medina, a labor leader and an immigrant rights advocate, hailed the Republican shift as progress. "We've gone from 'Immigration is dead' to writing principles. ... If they are serious, we want to be good partners."

Republicans including Rep. Steve King of Iowa remain staunchly opposed, however. He believes that immigrants in the country illegally who are allowed to become citizens will eventually vote for Democrats. "It's political suicide for Republicans to do this," King said.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gop-immigration-20140128,0,5729206.story#ixzz2rglhd7iC

No, Steve. It's political suicide if you don't do this. Proceed, Congressman.