bobbyw24
04-22-2010, 05:09 AM
Democrats Revive Immigration Push
Pelosi, Reid Agree to Put Issue Ahead of Energy Bill as Hispanics, a Key Voting Bloc, Grow Frustrated About Inaction
By LAURA MECKLER
Democratic leaders in Congress have agreed to try to pass immigration legislation this year, placing the explosive issue ahead of an energy bill on their agenda and upending conventional wisdom that it was dead for now.
Democrats hope the measure will quell frustration among Hispanic voters at inaction on immigration in advance of the fall elections, where those voters could be crucial in many races. A comprehensive bill would include a path to citizenship for those in the U.S. illegally, a priority for immigrant advocates but something opponents deride as amnesty.
"It's a moral imperative and a political imperative," said a Democratic leadership aide.
For Republicans, the issue presents both opportunities and perils. Some Republican strategists argue that an immigration battle will divide Democrats, which could help the GOP. The issue could be damaging to some conservative House Democrats who face tough races this fall in swing districts.
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-BF588_IMMIGR_D_20100421172912.jpg
A U.S. Border Patrol agent in March near a fence along the Mexican border about 15 miles east of San Diego. An immigration bill being drafted would try to better secure U.S. borders.
"If Democrats want to add to an already unpopular agenda by bringing up an issue that highlights divisions in their own caucus, they will be making a bad political environment even worse," said Paul Lindsey, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the House.
In a leadership meeting late Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would bring immigration legislation to the floor this year, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said she would try to move the bill if it passed the Senate first, according to three Democratic officials. With limited time available for action this year, both leaders said they would put immigration ahead of energy on their priority list, the officials said.
Previously, leaders were noncommittal on when they would bring the bill up.
Hispanic lawmakers and advocacy groups have begun complaining loudly that the issue keeps getting put off. "It's important for Democrats in the long run to retain the support of the Latino community," said a Democratic Senate aide involved in the conversations. "If you don't move on immigration and don't make a good-faith effort…I don't think you get anywhere. You disillusion a base that is yours to lose."
Democrats eyeing the Hispanic voting bloc include Mr. Reid, who faces a tough re-election race in his home state of Nevada, where 15% of voters in 2008 were Hispanic. Democrats running in other states with large Hispanic populations include Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Michael Bennet of Colorado.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703404004575198601410995496.html?m od=WSJ_hpp_sections_news
Pelosi, Reid Agree to Put Issue Ahead of Energy Bill as Hispanics, a Key Voting Bloc, Grow Frustrated About Inaction
By LAURA MECKLER
Democratic leaders in Congress have agreed to try to pass immigration legislation this year, placing the explosive issue ahead of an energy bill on their agenda and upending conventional wisdom that it was dead for now.
Democrats hope the measure will quell frustration among Hispanic voters at inaction on immigration in advance of the fall elections, where those voters could be crucial in many races. A comprehensive bill would include a path to citizenship for those in the U.S. illegally, a priority for immigrant advocates but something opponents deride as amnesty.
"It's a moral imperative and a political imperative," said a Democratic leadership aide.
For Republicans, the issue presents both opportunities and perils. Some Republican strategists argue that an immigration battle will divide Democrats, which could help the GOP. The issue could be damaging to some conservative House Democrats who face tough races this fall in swing districts.
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-BF588_IMMIGR_D_20100421172912.jpg
A U.S. Border Patrol agent in March near a fence along the Mexican border about 15 miles east of San Diego. An immigration bill being drafted would try to better secure U.S. borders.
"If Democrats want to add to an already unpopular agenda by bringing up an issue that highlights divisions in their own caucus, they will be making a bad political environment even worse," said Paul Lindsey, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the House.
In a leadership meeting late Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would bring immigration legislation to the floor this year, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said she would try to move the bill if it passed the Senate first, according to three Democratic officials. With limited time available for action this year, both leaders said they would put immigration ahead of energy on their priority list, the officials said.
Previously, leaders were noncommittal on when they would bring the bill up.
Hispanic lawmakers and advocacy groups have begun complaining loudly that the issue keeps getting put off. "It's important for Democrats in the long run to retain the support of the Latino community," said a Democratic Senate aide involved in the conversations. "If you don't move on immigration and don't make a good-faith effort…I don't think you get anywhere. You disillusion a base that is yours to lose."
Democrats eyeing the Hispanic voting bloc include Mr. Reid, who faces a tough re-election race in his home state of Nevada, where 15% of voters in 2008 were Hispanic. Democrats running in other states with large Hispanic populations include Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Michael Bennet of Colorado.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703404004575198601410995496.html?m od=WSJ_hpp_sections_news