As the committee chairman of jurisdiction, John had a responsibility to speak up. John was left with no other way to make that point than to cast a risky vote that went against the grain.
John Boehner is not opposed to an employment eligibility verification system; he supports establishing such a system in a manner that works and doesn't spark a backlash the Republican majority cannot afford. Had he been given the opportunity to make his points either in committee or on the floor, John would almost certainly have voted "yes" on final passage of H.R. 4437.
I'm not saying Boehner didn't have a right to speak up. That isn't my point. The fact remains, on this specific immigration issue, Boehner is for the employer NOT being punished in a case of violating the law for hiring illegals. Any good immigration reform proposal would include a provision to prosecute and punish employers who violate the law in hiring illegals.
The B man seems to be opposed to employer sanctions. Without punishing employers, a bill to curb illegals will be largely toothless.
If true, that would bring him the support of conservatives.
But not if the ultimate system Boehner will support is one which lets employers entirely off the hook for verification and imposes no fines (or very light fines) or other sanctions for knowingly hiring illegal aliens. That won't fly.