Posted on 03/26/2014 2:13:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pressed the economic case for overhauling the nation’s immigration system on Wednesday, saying that reform is inevitable and necessary to boost growth in the United States.
Ryan’s fellow House Republicans have largely put the kibosh on moving forward with immigration reform this year, but some key GOP lawmakers are still lobbying their colleagues publicly and privately to tackle immigration. The 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee is among figures who have urged the GOP to embrace an overhaul.
“To me, it’s not a question of ‘if’ we fix our broken immigration laws,” Ryan said Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “It’s really a question of ‘when.’”
(CARTOONS: Matt Wuerker on immigration)
Ryan called the nation’s immigration laws “chief” among the problems that are curbing economic growth. Noting the rate of retirement among baby boomers, Ryan said reforming the immigration system is necessary to fill future jobs.
“Please know that we understand the value of immigration,” Ryan told the crowd. “We know its importance; we know its roots, its history here in America; and we have ideas on how to make this go forward and make it work so that we do have the rule of law, so that we do have reform, so that we’re not in the same position 15 years down the road.”
House Republican leaders signaled earlier this year that they were ready to move forward on immigration reform — months after the Democratic-led Senate passed a complete overhaul with a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.
(PHOTOS: 10 wild immigration quotes)
But the GOP quickly extinguished the chances that immigration will get done this year, citing skepticism that President Barack Obama will enforce any laws that Congress writes. Republicans are also reluctant to take on a divisive issue such as immigration during an election year in which they will almost certainly retain control of the House and have a good chance at capturing the Senate.
Ryan recently indicated in an interview with his hometown paper, the Janesville Gazette, that GOP leaders do not yet have the votes to pass immigration reform, but “we’re working hard to find where that consensus lies.”
Among the biggest obstacles on the way to that consensus is what to do with the millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally. House Republicans have yet to put forward a measure dealing with that issue, but Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), at the same event Wednesday, was optimistic that a small circle of House Republicans has legislative language that could work.
(Also on POLITICO: Obama endorses House Dems)
“Can we deal with the folks that are here in a way that is reasonable, that does not violate the rights of folks who have done things legally, [and] can we strictly adhere to the rule of law?” Diaz-Balart said. “Some of us think we’ve achieved that magic formula.”
He is willing to write a bill with mistake added like the one he wrote for the vets.
I’m thinking Paul Ryan doesn’t get reelected.
He is in a Dem district and the magic is gone.
Thanks for the info to the both of you, I appreciate it.
Unfortunately we will have to fight this out until Bone head Ryno and the rest of them are defeated or we are defeated. There is no possibility of a compromise with these people because they are just like Schumer, they are our enemies.
They are only three seats, but they control the entire agenda, we could do without them, let some underpowered dems take the seats for a session, we would absolutely be better off for it.
I have griped about the Bush dynasty for years, but here we are getting ready to anoint Jeb.
Ideologues tend to ignore facts, they are also tend to be superior and condescending.
Apples and Oranges analogies rarely have any effect.
Paul Ryan on immigration.
FReep mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
These are the same people who are excited about Scott Walker. Another RINO from Wisconsin, also propped up by fellow RINO and RNC chair Reince Preibus, who many on here supported. In a way, you can say we are the problem as we had Mike Huckabee play at our 2005 inauguration party and we see what a RINO he is. If we can’t discern their motives from the start then they use us as a launch pad to create bigger problems later.
“Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity. You need big bucks from your corporate paymasters if you want to run for the WH.”
That’s the growing sentiment here in Badgerland. Such high hopes! :(
Yep. That’s how they play the game.
That RINO Walker sure stood up to the union thugs amid all the threats. Wisconsin is in a lot better shape because of RINO Walker.
Yes, he did. And I am grateful for that. But he’s still not ready for prime time. He needs to stay in Wisconsin.
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