Posted on 05/05/2010 7:26:11 AM PDT by ConjunctionJunction
The White House is set to step up pressure on some key Republicans in hopes of winning support for comprehensive immigration reform.
But it’s shaping up to be a struggle, based on interviews with the senators President Barack Obama has approached on the issue.
The administration is starting with a pool of 11 Republicans who voted for immigration reform in 2006. Subtract a few who are dead-ends — such as John McCain, who faces a tough primary in Arizona — and that leaves the White House zeroing in on several others, including Dick Lugar, Judd Gregg and Lisa Murkowski and a couple of newcomers: Scott Brown and George LeMieux.
Each got a call from President Barack Obama from Air Force One two weeks ago. And last Wednesday, Obama stressed that without Republican support immigration reform is a nonstarter.
Next up, White House staff will reach out to the senators’ staffs to test out an outline of a Democratic proposal on immigration. Senate Democrats also have approached the White House about hosting an immigration summit to elevate the issue, an idea that came up during a meeting with immigration groups last Thursday, a person familiar with the meeting said.
Six other Republican senators voted for immigration reform four years ago — Bob Bennett, Sam Brownback, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Olympia Snowe and George Voinovich — but here are the Top 5 the White House is focused on now:
George LeMieux of Florida
Open to talking, wants to see Obama out front
He’s seen as open to supporting reform because he’s a seat warmer who will be out of the Senate next year, after taking the seat that opened up when Mel Martinez retired.
LeMieux is considered a possible challenger to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, but voting for immigration reform isn’t seen as harmful to that effort because Florida’s Latino voters are a powerful voting bloc.
When asked whether he would consider supporting an immigration bill, LeMieux said he has not seen the Democrats’ proposal but is more than willing to meet with them to review it. But, he said, reform is going to require a hands-on approach from Obama.
“Immigration is obviously a big issue for Florida. It’s a big issue for this country,” LeMieux said. “It’s going to take a lot of leadership from the president — we’re going to need to see the president get out behind a proposal.”
Dick Lugar of Indiana
Friendship with Obama doesn’t extend to backing reform
Lugar voted for immigration reform in 2006 and is one of Obama’s closest friends in the Senate.
But he said the White House is wasting its time on him and “can cross me off” the shortlist of potential Republican supporters.
“I’m not planning to support an immigration bill or co-sponsor one this year,” Lugar said. “I reserve the right to vote for or against one if one occurs. It appears to me, given the schedule of the Senate, it’s not going to happen.”
Scott Brown of Massachusetts
41st Republican wants a focus on jobs instead
Brown is an obvious target for Democrats on immigration reform. He’s new, represents a liberal state and has promised to work across the aisle, which he has in voting with Democrats on a jobs bill and unemployment benefits. He also replaced the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Democrat who, along with McCain, co-sponsored the 2006 immigration bill.
Brown didn’t want to talk immigration reform, though. When asked what it would take to win him over, he said, “I’d have to see what they’re proposing.”
“We’re working on financial reform. The president called me, but that’s it,” he added. “I think we should be focusing on jobs instead of all this other stuff.” He said he doesn’t think immigration reform is related to jobs concerns.
Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
Wants to strengthen border security first
He’s been one of the Obama administration’s toughest critics on budget and deficit issues, but Gregg voted for immigration reform in 2006 and has preconditions for supporting it again.
Before he’ll even discuss a comprehensive immigration bill, he said, his precondition is that the administration must take immediate and separate action on securing the border. Even legislation that secures the border first, as Democrats propose, is not enough.
“Right now, the administration is in hiding on the issue of enforcing security at the border. They’ve got the resources, they’ve got the authorization, and they just need to do it,” said Gregg, suggesting the National Guard be posted along the border within months. “The American people are not going to agree to immigration reform until they see the border secured.”
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Reform prospects not “favorable”
Murkowski voted for immigration reform in 2006. As vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference, she said her office has been meeting with Latino leaders to discuss immigration.
But she told Obama in their phone call that “the likelihood of something happening this year is pretty slim until the situation down on the border in Arizona is resolved.”
When asked if she would rule out taking up reform this year, Murkowski said: “I do not believe that the prospects are favorable at all, and I’m certainly not working to help accelerate it.”
Manu Raju contributed to this report.
I hope these Republicans tell obama to get lost!
how about talky talky after borders are secured...why reward law breakers..half are carrying swastika sings and are looking for castro’s cuba.
Keep dreaming. Sadly this is one of those "bipartisan" issues in which the GOP is in total agreement with the Democrats. Expect shamnesty to pass with large majorities in both houses.
A bunch of slow moving rinos who wouldn’t last 5 mins in the real world.
Murkowski is my senator and I hope she knows better than to vote for this thing. Anchorage might lean a bit to the left but not the state in general.
Hey didn’t they already say they were securing the borders and building a fence? I seem to recall some sort of law that was passed, way way back before time even started ... that said secure the border first.
Isn’t this the same scam run on Reagan? And wasn’t McCain part of it last time?
Why did Obum-boy cancel the fence?
Reform is the wrong word. Amnesty is the word. You can't win an argument if you allow the opponent to use inaccurate language. There's an enforcement problem with existing law. New laws are not required. Reform is not necessary and amnesty is not reform.
Just to remind you that Obama promised immigration reform/path to citizenship to the House Hispanic Caucus in return for their critical votes on the Senate version HR bill. That promise makes it difficult for him to give it up without even a failed vote, and democrats in congress do NOT want to vote on this without Republican cover(especially if it fails) , so they (Dems) are in a corner.
I have an idea, why doesn't he get GWB to come out and lecture republicans again so they (republicans) can get the blame again? “See you at the signing”.
yeah, this looks like the GOP’s last shot. The Tea Parties are gonna kick them to the curb if they blow this one.
BEFORE any Republican makes up their mind—I suggest that they spend a day with the family of rancher Robert Krentz, followed by an entire evening with the members of the Border Patrol, with open mic rules in place.
Congress doesn’t have a clue what is going on at the southern borders of the USA.
Republicans need to say they want the people to have a vote, no major legislation before Nov.
Otherwise, they are just helping this radical agenda succeed.
the libtard rinos will get a lil bonus and sign on to it, just a matter of payment options from the bambam stash...
to the Obama crime family and thier mediawhores, any (alleged) Republican that might help them pass thier agenda is a “key Republican”. But in reality, they’re “idiot Republicans” that will aid and abet Obama’s comeback...
“I have an idea, why doesn’t he get GWB to come out and lecture republicans again so they (republicans) can get the blame again? “See you at the signing”. “
I can taste the vomit rising from my stomach.
Ahm gonna git you for this !!
Well said and worth repeating.
So far the BHG hasnt picked up on these sarcastic jokes fortunately.
Yeah.
Try this :Is “ Path to Citizenship” OK to say? It sounds so much better than amnesty. They pay a fine, or fee, or at least they have to say they are sorry in Spanish or at least look sorry.. OK , it's the thought that counts... and maybe they will vote Republican someday if we .... OK. that one hasn't been thought out very well... but if they are law biding...OK... maybe that's not a great argument either but they will be law biding after amnesty...err 'path to citizenship' at least for a while.
:) I thought you needed to remember all the old arguments. Remember when we used to hear this crap?
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