Is Immigration Reform Possible? - The Refinery 3/3/15 (SNIP)
TheRefinery crew talk about Immigration Reform following the GOP #39;s failure to block Executive Amnesty and discuss if there #39;s a path to win on this issue onc...
By: The Conservative Union
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Is Immigration Reform Possible? - The Refinery 3/3/15 (SNIP) - Video
America #39;s Forum | Mark Everson, Former IRS commissioner current Republican presidential candidate
Former IRS commissioner and current Republican presidential candidate discusses the importance of fundamental tax reform and immigration reform in moving America forward.
By: NewsmaxTV
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America's Forum | Mark Everson, Former IRS commissioner & current Republican presidential candidate - Video
Singed by their defeat in the battle over Homeland Security funding, Republicans arent about to renew their fight against President Barack Obamas executive actions on immigration anytime soon.
When the GOP-controlled Senate bent to Democratic demands to fund the Department of Homeland Security, effectively undercutting conservatives who were willing to allow the agency to shut down until Obama backed down, there was talk of Senate GOP leaders returning to the immigration issue to find new ways to thwart Obamas orders.
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But few within the GOP expect any kind of immigration debate in the Senate in the foreseeable future. The issue has been relegated to the back burner as Republicans instead focus on the budget, trade deals and, possibly, tax reform.
At this point, we have a lot of other issues to do, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who authored stand-alone legislation to block Obamas immigration directives. Im very happy the Department of Homeland Security is funded, and I think the issue of the presidents overreach with his executive order of last November is probably going to end up being decided by the courts. And thats not a bad option.
Senate Republican leadership aides also indicated that the chamber is not likely to return to the Collins legislation in the next several weeks a work period that will be dominated by anti-trafficking legislation, nominations, a fiscal 2016 budget and perhaps an Iran bill.
In the House, committees are humming along on some immigration bills, but leadership has shown no indication when or if they will come to the floor.
The inaction on immigration comes as the GOP is trying to improve its standing among Latinos in the 2016 presidential election. An autopsy of the partys problems after the 2012 election warned that Republicans must embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform. If we do not, our Partys appeal will continue to shrink.
Reform advocates were buoyed when the Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping bipartisan bill in June 2013. But the measure stalled in the House. And immigration, until at least after the next election, is more likely to be fodder for the campaign trail than congressional action.
And if there was any question, Obamas executive actions, which are deeply despised by Republicans, likely extinguished any remaining prospects of this White House working with the GOP on immigration. In a meeting with advocates last month, Obama said he was not hopeful this Republican-led Congress would pass immigration bills that he would be able to sign, one person who attended the meeting said.
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Immigration reform looks dead in this Congress - Burgess ...
Illinois Republican leaders on Monday reiterated their support for comprehensive immigration reform at a gathering organized by business leaders who want congressional action.
But it was Archbishop Blase Cupich who delivered the most forceful remarks, saying that if lawmakers disagree with Democratic President Barack Obama's executive actions to prevent deportation of those who are here illegally, "then Congress should supersede them by passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation."
"Trying to block the president's executive order ... is not a serious proposal, nor an adult way to deal with this issue," said Cupich, who has made the issue a focus in his first months on the job in Chicago.
The new archbishop was the only panelist to draw a standing ovation at the event, which also featured speeches by Gov. Bruce Rauner, Sen. Mark Kirk and Reps. Aaron Schock, Adam Kinzinger and Bob Dold, all Republicans.
Cupich also received sustained applause when he scolded the Republican-led U.S. House for failing to take a vote on an immigration bill that cleared the U.S. Senate in 2013.
"It seems to me there has to be a discussion at least about that point, because if in fact we're really a representative government in this country, then the full membership, on such an important issue, should be able to discuss this issue and vote on that piece of legislation, up or down, one way or another," Cupich said.
Schock said supporters of the reform effort need to "activate" voters on the issue "so that those of us who need to take these votes have the support back in our district to do so."
Rauner offered general support for fixing the immigration system.
"We must find a way together to get comprehensive immigration reform done and encourage immigration streamlining and encourage hardworking, honest families who want to be part of our community to become American citizens," Rauner said.
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Cupich, Rauner press for immigration reform deal
CHICAGO (WLS) --
Talk of immigration reform in quiet in Washington right now, but locally some Republicans are taking up the cause despite the financial challenges that loom over immigration service agencies.
"We must find a way, together, to get immigration reform done," said Gov. Rauner. "To encourage immigration streamlining, and to encourage hardworking, honest families who want to be part of our community to become American citizens."
"I really hope we stop this policy of attaching really controversial items to essential parts of the government which should not stop," said Republican Senator Mark Kirk.
The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition hosted a panel Monday morning at Saint Ignatius College Prep at the same time that Illinois governor Bruce Rauner proposes budget cuts to immigration services though out the state.
Lawrence Benito, CEO of Illinois Coalition of Immigration and Refuge Rights, says his organization and others strategizing how to continue helping undocumented residents with uncertain futures.
"Where there's political will there's always a way," Benito says. "It goes now to the General Assembly. We have support on both sides of the aisle."
Despite his budget proposal Governor Rauner, alluded to service needs as immigration reform moves forward.
"We need to take money out of the government bureaucracy and put it into the social services and the education system," he said. "It won't come easily, but we can get it done this year, and then we will have the proper support for the families who are here and need our support."
Budget appropriation hearings are underway on the governor's budget. In the meantime, agencies that assist the estimated 550,000 undocumented Illinois residents prepare for layoffs or worse.
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Archbishop, Illinois Republicans address immigration reform