March 31, 2006

The Perils Of Immigration Reform

National Journal's Kirk Victor reports this week that the mood of Congressional Republicans dealing with immigration is tense and dour.

THe full article is available to National Journal subscribers, but the lead of the piece explains a

"Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, chuckled before entering the hearing room where the Senate Judiciary Committee was about to continue its slugfest over immigration reform on March 27. DeWine predicted that tenacious Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would make good on his pledge to complete work that day so that the committee's sweeping measure could go to the Senate floor. But when DeWine was asked what his Ohio constituents think about the issue, he said it isn't a top concern. Not even second or third."It is certainly not the big issue," he said. "Jobs are the big issue. The war is certainly a topic. And health care. People do ask about immigration, and when it is in the news, like it is this week, it will certainly spike up."

DeWine thinks the odds are "less than 50-50" that the Senate and House will agree on a measure to send to Bush.

But, asks Victor, "if the odds are so long, is it worthwhile to expend an anticipated two weeks of precious Senate floor time during a truncated election year debating this combustible issue?" 'I won't comment on that," said DeWine, who is engaged in his own fierce re-election battle.That's certainly not a ringing endorsement for the decision by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to stage a high-profile showdown on immigration. With his party struggling to retain control of Congress, why would Frist force the half-dozen or so GOP senators who are vulnerable in November's elections to cast votes on a red-hot issue -- especially when the upshot may be gridlock that yet again draws attention to the Republican-led government's shortcomings?"

Posted at 01:42 PM

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