Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) laid down the law on Thursday morning, asserting that the House would not consider the Senate’s immigration bill.
During his regular press conference, the Speaker stressed that the Senate immigration bill doesn’t express the views of the majority of Americans — and doesn’t do enough to ensure border security .
“Apparently some haven’t gotten the message: The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes,” Boehner told the press. “We’re going to do our own bill — through regular order — and move the legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people.”
When asked about his personal stance on immigration, Boehner declined to answer, jokingly scolding the press for trying once again to get him to speak on the matter.
“You all have been trying to do this all year, in terms of getting me to take specific positions on immigration reform,” he said.
Boehner stressed that he didn’t support the “political football” involved in the immigration debate, but noted that the solution isn’t easy. He said his role was simply to facilitate conversation and action on a “contentious” and “difficult” issue.
“The worst thing in the world that could happen is for me to take some specific — some provision — and declare my support or opposition to it,” he said. “All that’s going to do is slow down the process.”
He said it was crucial for the immigration bill to have the support of a majority of Republicans and Democrats, in order for the American people to have faith in it.
