Three major conservative organizations have a message for Speaker John Bohner (R-Ohio): It’s time for immigration reform.
Douglas Holtz-Eakin of American Action Forum, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform and Al Cardenas of American Conservative Union penned a letter to the Speaker on Tuesday, instructing him to take up the issue of immigration reform from a conservative perspective.
“As conservatives, we believe in free markets and private sector-led economic growth,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, both of these are hampered under the current broken immigration system. We urge the House to take up a comprehensive package of immigration reforms — be it one bill or many — that secures our border, increases the legal flow of workers, and deals sensibly with the undocumented population.”
The three conservative leaders did note that the bill passed by the Senate was “progress,” but claimed it did not go far enough in certain areas, including visa caps — which they said should be raised.
“Members of the House will correctly pursue their own legislation,” they wrote.
Holtz-Eakin, Norquist and Cardenas also stressed the importance of limiting the welfare state, calling that move a “responsible part of immigration overhaul.”
Boehner has already stated that the House would not take up the bill passed in the Senate.
“Apparently some haven’t gotten the message: The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes,” he said at the time. “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.”
The Speaker also refused to give his personal views on the proposed immigration reform legislation, saying that would simply slow down the process.
