Ugh. I wish Congress would get it through their thick skulls that until this lawless administration is gone, nothing productive can be done on the immigration front. If they want proof of this assertion, they need to invite this guy to hear what is actually happening on the border.
NATIONAL JOURNAL – House conservatives will host several influential Republican senators on Wednesday for a closed-door policy summit that will feature voices on both sides of the immigration debate, National Journal has learned.
As House negotiators work to finalize an agreement on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, the Republican Study Committee has invited a handful of Republican senators, representing a range of views on the immigration debate, to Wednesday’s meeting in the Capitol. As of Friday, three had confirmed their attendance: Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Mike Lee of Utah.
Wednesday’s forum represents the first significant bicameral discussion on the divisive subject of immigration reform. The event, which will be moderated by RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, will include commentary from three RSC members playing pivotal roles in the policy process: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who chairs the House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who chairs the House Immigration Subcommittee; and Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, viewed as the leading voice on immigration matters among House conservatives.
The fact that Scalise invited both advocates and opponents of comprehensive immigration reform to Wednesday’s forum speaks to his strategy of eliciting member input and getting out in front of divisive policy fights before they spring up unexpectedly. It also reflects the lack of cohesion on the issue among House Republicans. Unlike the fights over gun control and the budget that have united the caucus in the 113th Congress, there is no conservative consensus on how to approach immigration reform. For months, RSC members have refused to stake out a position, insisting that they would wait to see legislative text and hear arguments from all sides before making up their minds.