Los Angeles Times
By Lisa Mascaro and Michael A. Memoli
April 29, 2014
Reporting from Washington —
Speaker
John A. Boehner on Tuesday downplayed his recent criticism of reluctant
GOP lawmakers as nothing but ribbing among friends, though he privately
told House Republicans
that he would still like to consider immigration reform this year.
Boehner
came under fire from conservative Republicans for a speech he made in
Cincinnati last week when he mocked colleagues with an exaggerated
whining tone for complaining
that the politics of immigration overhaul were "too hard."
"You only tease the ones you love," Boehner told reporters after the closed meeting at Republican Party headquarters Tuesday.
Lawmakers
tended to take the speaker's criticism in stride, but "some members
were offended," said Republican Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana.
Boehner
appeared to win over lawmakers, though, when he insisted "there's no
secret conspiracy to have comprehensive immigration reform pass,"
Fleming said.
But the speaker did not rule out taking up immigration bills this year.
"We're going to continue to work with our members and to have discussions and to see if there's a way forward," Boehner said.
Attention
on the House has intensified as the window for passing legislation
narrows with the coming November election. A year after the Senate
passed the most comprehensive
immigration overhaul in a generation, the House has yet to act.
Republicans
have argued that they cannot consider immigration reform because they
do not trust that President Obama will enforce whatever laws they may pass -- arguments Boehner reiterated Tuesday.
But
the GOP's reluctance has prompted the White House to consider using
executive powers to make changes in immigration if Congress fails to
act.
Advocates
for immigration reform have continued to pressure the House -- and the
administration -- to halt deportations. Protests outside the White House
led to several
arrests this week. More than 250 evangelical leaders rallied Tuesday
morning outside the Capitol.
"We're
trying to line up the votes," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a
leading GOP advocate of immigration overhaul. "Every day we're getting
more and more."
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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