GOP Mixed Signals
Immigration reform? Maybe or maybe not.
Republicans are sending mixed signals on immigration reform. The GOP introduced its principles for reform early this year only to have House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) warn that Barack Obama’s penchant for ignoring or changing the law “will spoil the well to the point where no one will trust him.” And yet activists at a Las Vegas fundraiser say Boehner told them he was “hell-bent on getting this done this year.” A spokesman didn’t deny it but maintained that Obama can’t be trusted. The two are not mutually exclusive – the GOP may decide to jump off the cliff anyway. But the lack of trust should be a deterrent. The Wall Street Journal reports, “Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R., Fla.) also is drafting legislation that would give qualifying undocumented immigrants legal status and the chance to apply for citizenship through existing channels. The bill includes border-security measures and an effort to clear the backlog of applications for permanent legal status, known as green cards.” It’s supposed to be ready by summer, so stay tuned.