Partisan cracks appear early in House immigration debate

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

Congress’ formal legislative debate on immigration opened Tuesday with a hearing in the House, where partisan cracks on the difficult issue emerged almost immediately.

Democrats on the panel focused on the need for a comprehensive overhaul that would expand legal avenues for immigration, improve enforcement of new laws and a path to eventual citizenship for the estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally.

But a number of Republicans who sit on the Judiciary Committee, a key gateway to any new immigration law, questioned whether there might be a middle ground between deportation of those here illegally — long the goal of many in their party — and extending citizenship.

The issue is quickly emerging as a flash point in the debate.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/partisan-cracks-appear-early-in-house-immigration-debate/2013/02/05/17571e1c-6fae-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html

[longship]

1. I am liking how this second term White House is playing their hand.

The Republicans are in a bit of trouble on some of the key issues. When they are divided, the Dems can win.

I suspect that the WH is behind some of the Dem's strategy.

I am cautiously optimistic for the first time in four years about what can happen in Congress.