The Washington Post, 02/19/2013 –
“Facing criticism for failing to reach out to Republicans negotiating an immigration overhaul, President Obama placed phone calls [February 19] to three GOP senators involved in an eight-member bipartisan group working on the issue.
“Obama spoke separately to Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) and John McCain (Ariz.) about their efforts to negotiate a bill…
“…The president told the senators that he shared their commitment to an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws and said he hopes they will be able to introduce legislation as soon as possible…
“…The calls from Obama represented unusually direct outreach by a president who has rarely engaged the Republican rank-and-file in difficult legislative debates, often preferring to ratchet up public pressure instead.
“…But the White House was working… to get the immigration talks back on track after the…leak to USA Today of a draft bill written by Obama administration officials.
“…White House officials indicated that Obama told the senators that he thinks reform should include strengthening border security as well as an earned path to citizenship for immigrants now in the country illegally, a newly streamlined legal immigration system and accountability for employers.
“…White House officials said Obama did not reach the group’s fourth Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), who was traveling, but would speak with him soon.”
To read the full article, please click here.
“Facing criticism for failing to reach out to Republicans negotiating an immigration overhaul, President Obama placed phone calls [February 19] to three GOP senators involved in an eight-member bipartisan group working on the issue.
“Obama spoke separately to Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) and John McCain (Ariz.) about their efforts to negotiate a bill…
“…The president told the senators that he shared their commitment to an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws and said he hopes they will be able to introduce legislation as soon as possible…
“…The calls from Obama represented unusually direct outreach by a president who has rarely engaged the Republican rank-and-file in difficult legislative debates, often preferring to ratchet up public pressure instead.
“…But the White House was working… to get the immigration talks back on track after the…leak to USA Today of a draft bill written by Obama administration officials.
“…White House officials indicated that Obama told the senators that he thinks reform should include strengthening border security as well as an earned path to citizenship for immigrants now in the country illegally, a newly streamlined legal immigration system and accountability for employers.
“…White House officials said Obama did not reach the group’s fourth Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), who was traveling, but would speak with him soon.”
To read the full article, please click here.
