House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., predicted Tuesday that House GOP centrists will not get the requisite 218 signatures to move forward with a plan to force three immigration votes at the end of the month.
Scalise said he is “very hopeful” that three more House GOP members will not sign the measure, which leadership has been working to stop in recent weeks.
“I don’t think they’re going to get a discharge petition,” Scalise told Politico Playbook at an event Tuesday morning, pointing to Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., saying he won’t sign the petition. “I’m very hopeful it won’t happen tonight.
“I don’t want to see a discharge petition and have been working actively with the rest of our leadership to stop it, but we’ve also been having very productive meetings with a wide range of our members,” Scalise said.
The comments come amid negotiations between centrist members who support the three smaller immigration measures, and House GOP leadership and House conservatives who are pushing for more comprehensive immigration reform. The sides negotiated toward a deal last week but were unable to reach one ahead of Tuesday.
Centrist members, led by Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., and Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., said on Friday they were planning to round up the final votes to activate the discharge petition. This would force a vote on three immigration measures, including the DREAM Act, which Scalise spoke out forcefully against Tuesday morning.
“It would be devastating if something like the DREAM Act passed,” Scalise said, pointing to its impact on national security and saying it would not help secure the border.
The group is set to meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the office of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., according to a GOP aide.
