Washington Times
By Stephen Dinan
April 16, 2014
President
Obama called a top House Republican Wednesday to try to jump-start
talks on passing an immigration bill, but the GOP leader, Rep. Eric
Cantor, rejected the overture,
saying it came just hours after the White House issued a partisan
attack statement on the same subject.
“After
five years, President Obama still has not learned how to effectively
work with Congress to get things done. You do not attack the very people
you hope to engage
in a serious dialogue,” Mr. Cantor said in a statement.
Wednesday
marked one year since a bipartisan group of senators introduced a broad
immigration bill, with the backing of the White House. That bill
eventually passed the
Senate on a bipartisan 68-32 vote, but has stalled in the House.
Mr.
Obama used the anniversary to try to plead with GOP House leaders to
rekindle the debate. The statement he issued said Republicans have been
left behind on the issue,
and accused them of voting for “extreme measures” like legislation that
would have halted his administration’s policies carving most illegal
immigrants out of danger of deportation.
Mr. Obama called the vote “punitive” toward illegal immigrants.
Mr.
Obama and fellow Democrats have said they believe the House could also
pass the Senate bill, if GOP leaders would let it come up for a vote.
But
a test-vote in the House Budget Committee earlier this month suggested
that may not be true. Even Rep. Paul Ryan, who had taken the lead in
trying to rally House Republicans
to pass a broad legalization bill, voted against Democrats’ budget
amendment, which closely tracked the Senate bill — though without stiff
border security enhancements.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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