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Paul Ryan has signed off on a letter promising restless members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) that he wont bring immigration-reform legislation to the House floor while President Obama remains in office.

The letter, obtained exclusively by National Review, formalizes pledges that Ryan made last weekin a closed-door meeting with select members of the HFC who were skeptical of his promise to maintain an open and inclusive relationship with the caucus. Specifically, it extracts Ryans word that he will not bring up comprehensive immigration reform so long as Barack Obama is president and, as speaker, Ryan will not allow any immigration bill to reach the floor for a vote unless a majority of GOP members support it.

Alabama representative Mo Brooks wrote the letter and will enter it into the Congressional Record on Tuesday morning. He says his intention was to record the pledges Ryan made in the meeting and earn Ryans confirmation that the record was accurate, so he could vote for the Wisconsin Republican in good conscience come the congressional-floor election that will determine the next speaker.

Its been widely reported that Ryan has promised to uphold the second promise in the letter the so-called Hastert Rule, which is designed to ensure that legislation brought to the House floor has broad support in the Republican conference but by agreeing to the letters substance, hes giving his first endorsement of that policy as it specifically applies to immigration reform.

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I need your assurance that you will not use the Speakers position to advance your immigration policies...because there is a huge gap between your immigration position and the wishes of the American citizens I represent, Brooks wrote. Your words yesterday constitute the needed assurance.

If my portrayal of your words errs in any respect, please deliver to me...a written communication correcting my errors, the letter reads. Brooks delivered it directly to Ryan on the House floorand says Ryan called his office during a staff meeting less than two hours later, confirming the accuracy of his promises as stated in the letter.

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When reached for comment, Ryan confirms Brooks account. I have long and publicly been opposed to the gang of eight bill, and there will be no comprehensive immigration reform under this president, he tellsNational Review.

Ryan may have won over a supermajority of the HFC last Wednesday, but his record on immigration continues to haunt him. Many HFC members are reaping the whirlwind of their unofficial assent to a Ryan speakership, as constituents flood their offices with angry phone calls, demanding to know why they arent fighting to prevent a man who once rallied support for the failed Gang of Eight immigration-reform bill from taking control of the House.

But as Brooks tells it, Ryans pledge indicates a significant step toward allaying misgivings about his past immigration stances, especially among the handful of HFC members Brooks included who have chosen to maintain their support for Florida representative Daniel Webster over Ryan in the GOP-conference vote that precedes the full Houses official speakers election.

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Brooks is glued to his computer when he speaks to NR, finalizing responses to the many incensed voters who have sent him complaints about Ryan. Nevertheless, with the presumptive speakers promise on immigration in tow, he says hes beginning to look forward. Of the potential for a healthy HFC voice throughout Ryans term, Brooks says, Im cautiously optimistic.

He adds that he believes Ryan will keep his promises.

I said [to him], Ok, Paul...this issue is a major source of disagreement, but I trust you when you give me your word.

Read the full letter below:

Editors Note: This piece has been updated since its initial publication.

Elaina Plott is a William F. Buckley Fellow in Political Journalism at the National Review Institute.

Read the original:
Paul Ryan Promises: No Immigration Reform under Obama ...