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By Luke Russert

As House Democrats mull a procedural tactic to force a vote on immigration reform legislation, the White House was cagey about whether it supports the maneuver.

After House GOP leaders all but shelved immigration reform this year, the White House sidestepped questions about whether it backs whats known as a discharge petition to force a vote on a House bill that closely mirrors the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration bill.

The president and this administration have committed to taking a step back and giving House Republicans the opportunity to consider a range of proposals on immigration reform, spokesman Josh Earnest said at a daily press briefing. So, we're going to give House Republicans the opportunity to have some conversations among themselves.

A discharge petition is a parliamentary tactic used by a member of the House to force a floor vote on a piece of legislation over the opposition of the majority partys leadership. It must garner a majority of signatures of the full House in order to move forward.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., last week encouraged House Democrats to use such a maneuver. Many House Democrats believe they could find the 18 to 20 GOP votes theyd need to pass the Senate immigration bill if all Democrats also voted for the package. If nothing else, the tactic would increase pressure on Republicans and their speaker, John Boehner, to act on the issue.

But House Democratic leaders are somewhat reluctant to use a discharge petition. Democrats last week announced they would use the tactic on a minimum wage law but declined to specify why they wouldnt on immigration reform. Critics contend this is because immigration is a wedge issue the party can use effectively in 2014s midterms and even moreso in 2016.

First published February 20 2014, 1:18 PM

Luke Russert joined NBC News in August 2008 as a correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Russert currently reports from Capitol Hill on the House of Representatives for Nightly News with Brian Williams, TODAY, MSNBC and NBCNews.com.

Since late 2011 Russert has served as a guest host on various MSNBC programs including: Way Too Early The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd Andrea Mitchell Reports NOW with Alex Wagner and The Cycle.

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White House Sidesteps Tactic to Force House Immigration Vote

The debate over immigration reform is complex.

It can be argued as an issue of economics, but even more deeply than economics is the psychology of immigration reform what do Americans want for their families and their country.

So said U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Congressional District) at a forum on immigration reform, sponsored by the Peacemaking Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville Sunday afternoon.

Americans may say they want to have a multicultural society, but they do not want competition for jobs for themselves or their children, Rep. Holt said. They may also say that the United States is a nation of immigrants.

But they also bristle at the foreign language being spoken in the next aisle at the grocery store. They say, We cant afford (immigration) anymore. That was back then, the congressman said.

Immigration policy in the United States historically has gone through waves fear of the other, fear of losing jobs, fear of the dilution of our culture and fear for our security, Rep. Holt said. It did not matter whether the immigrants were the Italians, the Jews or the Irish, he said.

Legislators have been wrestling with immigration reform for years, and the pending bills before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are complicated, Rep. Holt said. But given the issues deep psychological roots, it is not surprising that it has taken this long, he said.

The U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill last summer. Among its provisions are measures to increase border security between the United States and Mexico; an electronic entry and exit tracking system; and a workplace verification system.

Undocumented immigrants would have to pay assessed taxes, application fees and a $1,000 penalty, as well as be subjected to background checks, on the road to attaining citizenship. It could take years to be granted American citizenship.

The U.S. House of Representatives has not acted on the Senate bill, but has offered its own plan. Undocumented immigrants could stay in the United States, but may not be granted citizenship. They could be granted long-term residency, which would make them second-class citizens by policy, he said.

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