Boehner Is Said to Back Change on Immigration

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio has signaled he may embrace a series of limited changes to the nation’s immigration laws in the coming months, giving advocates for change new hope that 2014 might be the year that a bitterly divided Congress reaches a political compromise to overhaul the sprawling system.

Mr. Boehner has in recent weeks hired Rebecca Tallent, a longtime immigration adviser to Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who has long backed broad immigration changes. Advocates for an overhaul say the hiring, as well as angry comments by Mr. Boehner critical of Tea Party opposition to the recent budget deal in Congress, indicates that he is serious about revamping the immigration system despite deep reservations from conservative Republicans.

Aides to Mr. Boehner said this week that he was committed to what he calls “step by step” moves to revise immigration laws, which they have declined to specify.

But other House Republicans, who see an immigration overhaul as essential to wooing the Hispanic voters crucial to the party’s fortunes in the 2016 presidential election, said they could move on separate bills that would fast-track legalization for agricultural laborers, increase the number of visas for high-tech workers and provide an opportunity for young immigrants who came to the country illegally as children to become American citizens.

FULL story and video at link.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/us/politics/boehner-is-said-to-back-change-on-immigration.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043&_r=0

[Archae]

1. Boehner will blow it.

He'll go back to kissing up to the Teabaggers.

[frazzled]

2. This is thinly veiled poison pill

A "series of limited changes" means no comprehensive reform. They'll say, first we have to secure our borders before step 2 can commence. What securing our borders means will be of course impossible to either define or achieve. Therefore, step 2 will never kick in. The ultimate step--a pathway to citizenship--will be dependent on this series of prior steps being satisfied to Republicans' satisfaction. Which will never occur.

In other words, this is an empty promise.

[truebluegreen]

3. Exactly right.

Lucy, football--you know the rest.

[onehandle]

4. Oh, so he wants to coddle 'illegals,' rather than getting his house to return unemployment...

...for actual Americans.

Time to go full on third party, teabaggers.

[ctsnowman]

5. My take:

" increase the number of visas for high-tech workers" this is the only part that will go through so they can drive down the wages of the people they can't outsource overseas.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. They are not going to do a damn thing this year

because all 435 of them have to run for office.

Next!

[marble falls]

7. Too little, too late, too bad for the Ohio Orange.

[olegramps]

8. Boehner is a lying, hypocritical bastard.

I hope the bastard goes straight to hell. Anyone who would cut food assistance for little children is evil to the very depths of their rotten soul.

[maxsolomon]

9. Weathervane is said to move in the wind

He has no intention of doing anything but mouth platitutes for political effect.