Dreier Rejects Senate Version of Immigration Bill
Rep. David Dreier announced Wednesday that he will not vote for the Senate's version of immigration legislation, breaking ranks with the White House and bolstering his image as a hard-liner on the border.
Emblematic of the impending battle for a compromise, the Republican chairman of the House Rules Committee said he will fight with his colleagues to ensure the Senate bill does not take precedence over the border security bill passed by the House in mid-December.
The Senate's proposal to grant a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants would create an ill-equipped bureaucracy, said Dreier in an interview with the Daily Bulletin on Wednesday. He added that border security must remain a top priority in any immigration reform proposal.
"I'm in the business of finding a solution to this pressing critical problem, but we have to secure our border first," said Dreier, of Glendora. "My view is legislation should be citizen neutral. Anything that gives any advantage to someone who is here illegally is troubling and wrong. The massive huge new bureaucracy that the Senate bill will create is just another problem with the bill."
On Wednesday, in a vote of 73 to 25, the Senate closed the debate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Package, opening the door for the measure's passage this week.The final legislation, however, will have to be negotiated with the House.
According to some House Republicans, the Senate's proposal is tantamount to amnesty without any real teeth in terms of border security. Dreier added that the bill offers Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.
Dreier's stance on the bill could signal a shift in power, said Jack Pitney, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and author of numerous essays about the Republican party.
"The conference resolution could end up being closer to the House bill," Pitney said. "Dreier is a considerable figure in the House, which could put Senate Democrats in a difficult position because if they vote against the House, they may be the ones responsible for the defeat of immigration reform. Whether it works out that way nobody knows."
The prospect of no legislation being enacted could pose another problem for the president, who has publicly pushed for a guest-worker program and seen falling approval ratings.
Dreier, a strong supporter of the administration, said he understands Bush's concerns but will work with his colleagues to forge legislation to protect the nation's borders first.
His opposition to the Senate is similar to other House Republican leaders who have resisted the White House efforts for a bill that combines a guest-worker program with border enforcement.
"I've met with the president and talked to him about how strongly I feel about this," Dreier said. "I've had many discussions about the issue with him, and I hope that any compromise has every provision that was included in the House bill -- strategic border fencing, increase of Border Patrol and now our utilization of the National Guard."
Dreier said he hopes a compromise can be reached. But if House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., blocks the Senate's bill from making it's way to a full vote, the legislation may never reach the president.
Among other things, Pitney said, Dreier's move publicly signals his alliance with fellow House members.
"There are several reasons why Dreier decided to openly oppose the legislation -- his strong belief in stopping illegal immigration, his concern about his constituents and the upcoming elections," Pitney said. "And the support for his colleagues -- David Dreier is a man of the House."
