Boehner says Obama should take lead on immigration

November 9, 2012 @ 10:09 am


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Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker John Boehner on Friday said it was time to address immigration policy and urged President Barack Obama to take the lead in coming up with a plan that would look at both improved enforcement of immigration law and the future of the estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally.

Immigration policy, largely ignored during Obama's first four years in office, has reemerged as a key issue as Republicans seek ways to rebound from the beating they got from Hispanic voters during the presidential election. More than 70 percent of Hispanic voters supported Obama, who has been more open than Republicans to comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws.

"It's just time to get the job done," Boehner said at a news conference. He said lawmakers from both parties want to resolve the issue. "But again, on an issue this big, the president has to lead."

But Boehner would not commit to supporting legislation that might open a pathway to citizenship _ an idea that most Republicans have strongly opposed _ for those living in the country illegally.

"I'm not talking about a 3,000-page bill," he said. "What I'm talking about is a common-sense, step-by-step approach to secure our borders, allow us to enforce the laws and fix a broken immigration system."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after the election that the vote showed that Democrats are the party of diversity, and he plans to bring up an immigration reform bill next year. He said Republicans would block such legislation at their own "peril."

Boehner, in an earlier interview with ABC, appeared to open the way for discussion on immigration by saying that a comprehensive approach is long overdue, and "I'm confident that the president, myself, others can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all."

That won praise from Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., head of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, who called Boehner's recognition of the urgent need for immigration reform a "breakthrough."

But Rep. John Fleming, R-La., also expressed concern that Boehner was "getting ahead of House Republicans when he commits to getting a `comprehensive approach' to immigration."

"There's been zero discussion of this issue within the conference, and I'm urging the speaker to talk with House Republicans before making pledges on the national news," Fleming said.

Hispanics proved to be a critical source of support for Obama, and Republicans have since cited their failure to attract Hispanic voters as one reason for Obama's victory. The two candidates offered a stark contrast during the campaign.

Obama has been supportive to immigration law overhaul and in June announced that people brought here illegally as children who had graduated high school or served in the military would not be deported and would be granted work permits. GOP candidate Mitt Romney, meanwhile, supported more hardline policies and at one point called for "self-deportation" to shrink the number of people in the country illegally.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (7)


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  • Fuego wrote...
    I think what Boehner
    November 9, 2012 10:45 am
    is really trying to say is pack your bags and immigrate to another country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    My Two Cents...........
    November 9, 2012 11:31 am
    I said it early on into the first term and I will say it again before the second term even begins..........

    During the first term, they spent WAY TOO MUCH TIME EFFFING around with health care reform and not enough time working on the economy and getting Americans back to work.

    The health care system surely is a drain on our nation, but you were voted in the first time because of Hope and Change.

    I will say it at the beginning of THIS term......don't waste the first 2 years of your second term trying to "create another legacy" by EFFFFFING around with immigration reform.

    Sure, illegals are a drain on our nation, but you were voted into office the second term because the nation was very s-l-o-w-l-y starting to recover and also....... you were the lesser of two evils.

    Focus on what people voted you into office for........the economy and bringing jobs back to Americans.......Please?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Hpy...
    November 9, 2012 11:53 am
    I'm not sure Obama knows how to fix this mess and I don't think he really cares. If the fiscal cliff is so important and only 51 days to get something done, why is he flying off to visit Burma? Clinton, Reagan and to some degree Bush would be having both parties over to the White House and start burning the midnight oil. I think you just see more finger pointing and speeches.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Complete Garbage!
    November 9, 2012 2:50 pm
    He has stated today that he is willing to compromise. That means that The GOP has to be willing to do the same. The Dems are more than willing to cut spending, but The GOP can't say they aren't willing to raise some taxes. Their talk of tax reform isn't the same thing. Sure we can do some tax reform, but we need to raise some taxes. Remember when Clinton raised them and The GOP said it would destroy jobs and create a larger deficit? They said that and the complete opposite happened.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Math would help
    November 10, 2012 7:18 am
    The buffet rule would only raise about 80 billion in new revenues. Just for giggles lets say we double it. In the last 4 yrs the annual deficit has averaged over 1trillion dollars. So you tell me how long 160 billion in new revenue will last? Don't worry it's not a trick question but I'm sure you'll coug it anyway.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    fuego
    November 9, 2012 6:42 pm
    Are you one of those MAD republicans that are already starting to blame Obama for things he hasn't even done yet? Too much limbaugh vomit on your sleeve. You guys lost, you deserved it and I am a happy man.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Longway
    November 10, 2012 6:54 am
    The election is over so WE are in this together. The economic nightmare that is coming will impact all Americans regardless of who you or I voted for. Time will tell who's right; I hope for my kids sake I'm wrong but I' m making plans in case I' m right.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }