Senate Seeks Bipartisan Immigration Reform

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 1, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                         

        Positioning themselves for the 2014 midterm election, Senate Republicans joined hands with Democrats to craft bipartisan immigration reform to deal with the nation’s estimated 11-million illegal aliens.  GOP hardliners had wanted all undocumented workers to get to the back of the line, making no concessions for anyone entering the U.S. illegally.  “I’m encouraged by report of an agreement between business groups and unions on the issue of guest workers.  However, reports that the bipartisan group of eight senators have agree on a legislative proposal are premature,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.).  Considered as a possible 2016 presidential candidate, Rubio was cautious not to raise expectations too high.  When former President George W. Bush’s immigration reform crashed-and-burned June 28, 2007, the measure was killed by House and Senate conservatives.

             Last November’s shellacking in the polls left 41-year-old Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus no choice but to push hard for immigration reform.  Among the many of Priebus’ convoluted conclusions, he believes the GOP must go after more Hispanic voters.  Prevailing wisdom holds that immigration reform solicits Latino votes.  “I believe we will be able to agree on a legislative proposal that moderates our legal immigration system, improves border security and enforcement and allows those here illegally to earn the chance to one day apply for permanent residency upon certain triggers being me,” said Rubio, leading the GOP immigration effort because of his Cuban background.  Among the many issues hanging up immigration reform involves a guest worker program, allowing Mexican workers and trucks to move freely delivering goods across the border.

               Calling it an “earned pathway” toward citizenship, the gang-of-eight wants undocumented workers to pay fines, back taxes and learn English to get GOP support.  Whether or not paying fines, back taxes or learning English is realistic is anyone’s guess.  “I hope that we can pull some Republicans or way.   I think a number of them are with us already,” Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) told CNN’s John King on “State-of-the-Union.”  Flake wants more conservative GOP senators to join the growing consensus that immigration reform helps the Republican Party.  Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO labor union, both agreed on a guest workers program that protected American jobs while opening doors for immigrants.  Including a pathway to citizenship enabled business and labor to get on the same page.  Offering and earned pathway to citizenship appealed to both groups.

             With  business and labor consensus, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) believes all major hurdles have been overcome for a bipartisan bill.  “With the agreement between business and labor, every major policy issue has been resolved,” Schumer told NBC’s David Gregory on “Meet the Press.”  Selling bipartisan immigration reform to the more GOP-leaning House won’t be easy.  Concerned about how illegal immigrants take away American jobs, House conservatives, like Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) or Eric Cantor (R-Vir.) aren’t inclined toward the bipartisan legislation.  “We’ve all agree that we’re not going to come to a final agreement until we draft legislative language and we agree on that,” said Schumer.  Supported by Sen. John McCain  (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Lindsey Grahmam (R-S.C.), the gang of eight hope to bring on board conservative in the House and Senate to back bipartisan immigration reform.

             When you’ve got Schumer on the same side as McCain and Graham, you’ve got a good shot of pushing through bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate.  House Republicans facing reelection next year want immigration reform to burnish their credentials with minorities.  New legislation hopes to create a “W” visa, enabling less skilled foreign workers, like farm laborers, to take jobs in the States.  W-visas would not have time limitations, enabling workers to stay in the States to seek more permanent immigration status.  With the Congress more divided than ever, immigration reform gives the GOP the perfect out before the 2014 midterm election.  Passing immigration reform should appeal to Latino voters that have been running away from the GOP droves.  Passing immigration may help the GOP but won’t reverse current trends unless the Party platform changes.

             GOP’s mad rush to pass immigration reform stems from the recent RNC report confirming Latinos aren’t drawn to the Republican Party.  Whatever the merits of immigration reform, the GOP hopes to draw more voters into the Party, preventing Democrats from their current numerical advantage.  Underestimating the voting IQ of Hispanics, the GOP ploy to reel in more Latino votes unless they change their platform could backfire.  As long as the GOP tries to cut more federal jobs, give tax loopholes to big corporations and oppose heath care reform, it’s not likely to attract more Latino workers.  “I hope we can pull some Republicans our way.  I think a number of them are with us already,” said Flake, hoping that House conservatives listen to Priebus and get with the program.  Immigration reform has become the GOP’s last-ditch attempt to get Latino votes.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.