Rubio Backs Off His Immigration Bill - Florida Republican Now Says Senate Should Agree to Whatever House Republicans Can Pass
From The Wall Street Journal:
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who did more than any senator to rally conservative support for the sweeping immigration bill the Senate passed in June, is all but abandoning the legislation he helped to author.
Early this year, Mr. Rubio aggressively promoted the measure on conservative talk shows. But in a reversal, he now is arguing the Senate bill shouldn't form the basis of negotiations with the House and that the House should work to pass narrowly tailored immigration bills.
His new position mirrors that of House Republican leaders. They have said they would deal with the complex immigration issue one piece at a time, though they have yet to bring any bills to the floor and haven't laid out a timeline for doing so.
The bill passed by the Senate included provisions for border security, visa programs for high-tech and low-skilled workers, a requirement that employers verify workers' immigration status and a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally.
"I am just trying to be realistic about what is achievable," Mr. Rubio said in an interview Monday, saying he favored allowing the House "the time and space to decide how they want to move forward, which appears to be with a series of individual bills." He said he would oppose efforts to marry any House bill with the larger Senate measure, in part because many conservatives want nothing to do with a comprehensive overhaul.
Mr. Rubio's shift comes after he was criticized by fellow conservatives for championing the Senate bill, which he often did in emotional terms as the son of Cuban immigrants. His approval ratings among Republicans have sunk in national polls, as has his standing among potential 2016 presidential candidates.
By early summer, Mr. Rubio put aside his push for an immigration deal and pivoted to other causes more in keeping with his conservative base. He called in June for a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and became an early advocate for tying last month's budget and debt talks to measures defunding the Affordable Care Act health law.
Democrats and other advocates of a broad immigration bill fear a piecemeal approach would leave out a path to citizenship for those who are now in the country illegally.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who did more than any senator to rally conservative support for the sweeping immigration bill the Senate passed in June, is all but abandoning the legislation he helped to author.
Early this year, Mr. Rubio aggressively promoted the measure on conservative talk shows. But in a reversal, he now is arguing the Senate bill shouldn't form the basis of negotiations with the House and that the House should work to pass narrowly tailored immigration bills.
His new position mirrors that of House Republican leaders. They have said they would deal with the complex immigration issue one piece at a time, though they have yet to bring any bills to the floor and haven't laid out a timeline for doing so.
The bill passed by the Senate included provisions for border security, visa programs for high-tech and low-skilled workers, a requirement that employers verify workers' immigration status and a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally.
"I am just trying to be realistic about what is achievable," Mr. Rubio said in an interview Monday, saying he favored allowing the House "the time and space to decide how they want to move forward, which appears to be with a series of individual bills." He said he would oppose efforts to marry any House bill with the larger Senate measure, in part because many conservatives want nothing to do with a comprehensive overhaul.
Mr. Rubio's shift comes after he was criticized by fellow conservatives for championing the Senate bill, which he often did in emotional terms as the son of Cuban immigrants. His approval ratings among Republicans have sunk in national polls, as has his standing among potential 2016 presidential candidates.
By early summer, Mr. Rubio put aside his push for an immigration deal and pivoted to other causes more in keeping with his conservative base. He called in June for a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and became an early advocate for tying last month's budget and debt talks to measures defunding the Affordable Care Act health law.
Democrats and other advocates of a broad immigration bill fear a piecemeal approach would leave out a path to citizenship for those who are now in the country illegally.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:18 AM
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