Immigration Reform: Obama Called Multiple GOP Senators, Quick Action Unlikely

President Barack Obama made a series of phone calls to Republican senators on Tuesday in an effort to grease the wheels for a bipartisan bill on immigration reform. The time frame for consideration of that bill remains vague, however, as the administration dismissed reports that action could happen as early as this month.

On Tuesday, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) relayed to the Wall Street Journal that the president called him from Air Force One to discuss, among other things, immigration reform, adding that Obama will be addressing or pushing the issue in the next month.

Brown, it turns out, isn't the only target. On Wednesday Obama "made a series of phone calls" while in air. The list of recipients included: Richard Lugar (Ind.), George LeMieux (Fl.), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Judd Gregg (N.H.). And while the effort was designed to "engage [the GOP's] desire to participate in the process of finding a comprehensive immigration reform solution," getting the legislative process moving in the immediate future was unlikely.

"I think I saw reports that there was this notion that the Senate would take this up within the month," said Gibbs. "Obviously the president is very interested in this, has been a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. The president made a commitment to those working on the proposal in the Senate to help find additional support. But... I'm not aware that the president enumerated that we need to go to this in a month timeline."

The White House pledged to release the names of the other Republican senators called up by Obama. The Huffington Post will add those names to this post once they arrive. But the overarching goal of the administration is beginning to crystallize. Obama wants to make sure/ensure that the votes are there first before moving forward on the immigration reform proposals being crafted by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The House of Representatives, too, is waiting on Senate action.

"I think it is safe to assume that we are not going to get comprehensive immigration reform legislation through the Senate on a party line vote, which means you are going to have to have bipartisan support,' said Gibbs.

Comments

[Patriotallday]

10:48 AM on 04/22/2010

---Immigration reform = Obama code word for amnesty for criminals !

[busterbrownthefirst]

11:58 AM on 04/22/2010

Oh, spare me. You simply lucked out concerning your birth. You could easily be doing the same thing, but for mere chance. Plus, Reagan granted amnesty to droves of illegals, but now that it's Obama it's bad? Finally, are you familiar with the bipartisan legislation on immigration reform already drafted by a Democrat and a REPUBLICAN? Or are you one of those people who think that all of a sudden Lindsey Graham is a closet homosexual?

[raleigh1997]

12:16 AM on 04/28/2010

Agreed! Millions were granted amnesty by Reagan and the country didn't collapse. It's just that now, Republicans fear that all these people will vote Democratic and make their party a thing of the past. Their world is changing, the color of American is changing and some cannot stand the change.

[StevenevetS]

04:30 PM on 04/22/2010

Your Blog name is inaccurate.

[jay1975]

09:42 AM on 04/22/2010

Why not a common sense approach? How about a $50,000 fine for every illegal alien hired levied against the employer? If someone is here illegally, give them a temp visa and make them go through the immigration process and require them to learn english. Put an end to the achor baby rule and secure the border. Of course, I must be a racist.

[CHICAGOSTYLE]

09:46 AM on 04/22/2010

we can implement E-VERIFY that Dick Durbin eliminated and then really put some teeth into border patrol also,,,, and I must be a racist too as I agree with you

[StevenevetS]

04:31 PM on 04/22/2010

You both seem reasonable to me.

Oh NO! I'm racist too!

[deltalady]

10:00 AM on 04/22/2010

All I'm asking is to apply any immigration reform fairly across the board, regardless of color, economic status, or political power plays. What makes a Mexican immigrant any worse than any other? And why does the media portray them in such a terrible light while ignoring everyone else? Fairness. If you can't understand what I'm saying, then you have a problem with Hispanic people. Face it...we're all racists in one way or the other. There is no "Kumbaya" moment in this country. We all have our prejudices and dislikes.

[duhtruth]

10:25 AM on 04/22/2010

Wake up folks! The only immigrants that were every welcomed into this country were blacks who were brought over in chains on slave boats. Although Lady Liberty beckons for the weary, homeless masses, the citizens balk at those of different color, different tongues, different looks. Folks, immigrants aren't your enemy, the aristocracy is.

[jay1975]

10:50 AM on 04/22/2010

I agree. Whether their Mexican, Canadian or whatever, follow the rules or face the consequences.

[deltalady]

09:24 AM on 04/22/2010

I'm so disappointed in the comments this AM So to you, Immigration means keeping the Mexicans out, letting everyone else in. When this conversation begins, all we see dusty people crawling over What about all of those who come across the northern border in their Mercedes and God knows what in the trunk? Why do so many Middle Easterners live in gated communities with green cards freely given? The US has a Visa program that allows anyone with at least 1/2 million & the ability to provide jobs in two years to at least 10 people free rein in getting "legal. & incredible tax breaks to do so. I worry much more abt them than I do a few Mexicans. The racism directed at these good people is a national disgrace, but the Prez doesn't care. He fooled them long enough to get their vote. They're taking our jobs? Guess what? They don't hire themselves. We're supposed to be so socially conscious on this board, yet when one hears "Mexican", they're no longer human. You should be ashamed of yourselves for these mean-spirited comments. Try asking a Pakistani woman to clean you kitchen. Ask a Muslim to cut your grass. They won't. Mexicans don't want to change the country. Can you say that other immigrants feel the same? GIve it a decade and every boss in this country is going to be from the Middle East. Maybe a Mexican won't be so bad a choice by that time.

[thepheonix]

08:22 AM on 04/22/2010

Immigration is a very thorny issue.

A majority of Americans are against this.

Unemployed people will not tolerate making millions of people legal. This will worsen their chances of getting employment.

If the Dems do this, they could lose both Houses.

[postman66]

08:49 AM on 04/22/2010

Or they could have a bunch of new voters and win both Houses.

[Gasparilla]

08:16 AM on 04/22/2010

Ane the reality is they are going to do nothing about enforcement until they get their amnesty. Enforcement is being held hostage to this. Supposedly you can't do one without the other. Why not?

[measie]

03:25 AM on 04/22/2010

This headline brought to you by the same folks who declared healthcare reform dead.

[StateTheFacts]

12:11 AM on 04/22/2010

This is the narrative that's pushed by the right, and the clones who buy into this type of garbage...

DARRELL LANIER I'm a Fan of DARRELL LANIER permalink
Exactly, Calderon wants us to pass IR and keep [these people]. To Calderon, [these people] are considered the muck of Mexico (it is the truth). He would rather that we keep them then have them return. This is equivalent to Castro cleansing his country of the troubled Cubans and sending them to Florida in the 80s.

[springsm]

11:38 PM on 04/21/2010

Immigration is a sticky wickett. There are people in this country brought in as babies by their families. some of them are now middle age...are you going to deport them too? I don't want to see that. I want the gang bangers gone. I want proof that the workers who glean the fields, haut cement take jobs from American union workers. This is a hard decision, nobody will be happy and actually nobody will be served when and if deportation occurs for all that they can round up. I am ambivilent, but I cant see people who have actually been productive for years being deported. I know..you can throw mud...but I think that is what the hold up will be. And remember Bush couldn't do it either. Reagan had a chance and he couldn't do it either. Nobody wants to touch this. The Party of No wants to now because it puts Obama in a bind. Do we see bipartisan efforts on this? Not in this life. And Arizona has its own problems that far surpass that of Immigration. They have a built in leadership hate problem.

[masher]

02:18 AM on 04/22/2010

If you keep allowing anchor babies then it never stops. And the longer you are soft on this and more anger you are helping to create. People need to realize that by not doing enforcing the laws they are creating the anger.

[VikingQuest]

10:01 PM on 04/21/2010

This isn't news . . .

Americans are going to be totally against amnesty and in an election year . . . nobody will walk the plank.

[surferbuoy]

10:09 PM on 04/21/2010

So true.

[masher]

02:19 AM on 04/22/2010

I'm not so sure. Obama has done amazing things for Wall Street and multi-national corporations. And they would love to see another amnesty.

[rhomsky]

05:00 AM on 04/22/2010

I'm not so sure. Bush was even more amazing on the things you listed and he couldnt get reform done.

[massjim]

09:16 PM on 04/21/2010

Hard working immigrants that enter the country legally are a great benefit to the country.

[VikingQuest]

10:02 PM on 04/21/2010

Indeed they are, too bad we have a bunch of illegals being a drain.

[Cramflow]

11:09 PM on 04/21/2010

Please tell me how the average foreigner is supposed to enter the U.S. "legally?" At least be honest about your opposition. The truth is, you don't want any foreigners here at all, because the truth is, there is no mythical line to stand in, and no way for the "illegals" to do it the right way. Try acquainting yourself with the law before you spout the Fox tagline.

[masher]

02:21 AM on 04/22/2010

Yes, they are a huge benefit to corporations in this country. But they do drive down wages for workers. Since H-1B wages have been stagnant. That's just a fact. But profits have soared for the rich. The middle class in the US is actually shrinking. And the disparity between the rich and the poor is quickly widening. All of this as we have increased immigration.

Its not by accident.

[jerryatthebeach]

08:45 PM on 04/21/2010

It should be a privilege, not a right, to come to this country...

[Soule23]

09:10 PM on 04/21/2010

What you're saying is that we should bar productive, motivated people from improving our lot and theirs so that either a) your contempt for people with high melanin content can be satisfied or b) our underperformers can work jobs that an immigrant could do better.

[VikingQuest]

10:02 PM on 04/21/2010

What you're saying is that the USA shouldn't be able to set immigration policy

[surferbuoy]

10:13 PM on 04/21/2010

Explain how the illegal immigrant can do what better? A bit confused by your comments. Both A & B.

[Patriotallday]

08:32 PM on 04/21/2010

______"Immigration reform",,,is lib code word for granting full rights of citizenship to CRIMINALS !

[postman66]

08:39 PM on 04/21/2010

Reagan did it Birther drone. Was he a liberal?

[surferbuoy]

10:16 PM on 04/21/2010

Nope, he wasn't a liberal...the real question is exactly what did the previous amnesty accomplish? Did it stop illegal immigration? Did it provide fair wages for all? What exactly did it accomplish? And before you yell at me "birther drone" or some such thing think again, I am probably as liberal as you.

[Soule23]

09:10 PM on 04/21/2010

I think that we should revoke the citizenship of anyone caught speeding or driving with defective tail lights. They are CRIMINALS after all.

[masher]

02:28 AM on 04/22/2010

Nobody is talking about revoking illegal aliens US citizenship because they don't have one to revoke! Duh.

[jon86]

08:29 PM on 04/21/2010

News Flash: Obama doesn't walk on water, and can't take on every piece of major legislation at once. I know it needs to get done, but lets get one thing at a time. He has to build some political capital.

[DARRELL LANIER]

08:39 PM on 04/21/2010

Fanned.

[surferbuoy]

10:17 PM on 04/21/2010

Creating jobs would be a nice start.

[Soule23]

10:29 PM on 04/21/2010

How do you propose that he do that?

[rhomsky]

05:11 AM on 04/22/2010

True. Creating jobs to make up for all of the jobs killed off by the last admin would be great. The trends are good but it will take some time to get back to clinton levels.

[Ron Ogden]

07:56 PM on 04/21/2010

This country does not need bigots...We have plenty now...

[Changein2012]

08:05 PM on 04/21/2010

Rev. Wright is leaving???

[Soule23]

09:11 PM on 04/21/2010

Are you going with him?

[masher]

02:31 AM on 04/22/2010

I think the pro-illegal alien folks who ignore the real suffering of their own countrymen are the bigots.

[Changein2012]

07:27 PM on 04/21/2010

Obama falters on immigration reform promises

Advocates for illegal immigrants fear the White House is doing the bare minimum to appease Latino voters before midterm elections as it focuses on other issues.

A White House commitment to overhaul the nation's immigration system this year is collapsing, with the Obama administration undecided about the best way to proceed on an issue the president had identified as a top priority.

Obama initially had promised to take up the issue in his first year in office. He missed the deadline amid an all-out push to enact a healthcare overhaul. Now, Obama is pushing for new regulations for the financial industry, tighter campaign finance laws and a new Supreme Court justice to replace John Paul Stevens, who is retiring.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-immigration-20100421-1,0,1283076.story

[postman66]

07:30 PM on 04/21/2010

In this economy, who can be surprised at unmet goals. There is still time. Obama has shown himself to be a long distance runner.

[tavote08]

09:34 PM on 04/21/2010

Yeah, my goal was to refinance my home, purchase some rental property to aide my child with college fees by August of 2010, need I say more???

I plan on running the distance with him I think it will be worth it. If nothing else he is trying to lay foundations for a better America down the road.