Missed Opportunity

It's now official. They're wetting their pants. They may even be sh**ting their pants as well.

And why's that? For one, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Bad@$$) just called House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Cointreau) border games bluff. He thought he could just pander some more to his "TEA" powered base, but he forgot about that little thing called the US Senate (and its Majority Leader, Harry Reid).



Over a year ago, the US Senate passed S 744. Senator Dean Heller (R) and 13 other Senate Republicans voted for this bill. And it's been stuck in the House ever since.

Why? House Republican "leaders" always talk #4jobs, but they never come up with any real legislation. This and HR 15 (the House companion bill) gave them the opportunity to match their words with real action. Yet when presented with this opportunity to solve priblems and boost economic growth, they instead reached for more excuses for inaction.

Why? We keep wondering. And so does Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California).



The House had the opportunity to follow in the Senate's footsteps. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) and the other lead Democrats behind HR 15 even reached out to a number of Republicans for support. Yet still, there was no floor vote. Still, there was no action on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

Then, the national media began to pick up the #BorderChildren story, Congressional Republican "leaders" merely saw this as an opportunity... To pander to the 21st Century Know Nothings in the worst possible way. They decided to forego any real solutions to the #BorderChildren problem and instead scream about "rape paths" and birth control.



Yep, "King of Crazy" Steve King (R-Iowa?) is still calling the shots in the lower House of Congress. And not only is he blocking any kind of CIR, and not only does he want to deport both refugee children and American DREAMers, but he also wants that little thing caled impeachment.



Instead of fostering the best that America has to offer and putting our best foot forward, we're missing opportunities. Instead of ensuring humane treatment of refugee children and pursuing new economic opportunities, we're wasting time debating nonsense. Yet instead of acknowledging the missed opportunities and recommitting to pursuing them, House Republican leaders and their loyal lackies (cough- Joe Heck -cough) on the back bench are chasing after dreams of impeachment while denying their very actions to the media. They missed the opportunity to be productive, so now they must face the consequences of their duplicitous sloth.

Think About It.

He thought he could get away with it. He thought he had pulled off the perfect switcheroo. He thought he had deftly handled this "political hot potato".

Now, it looks like the potato just exploded in Rep. Joe Heck's (R-Henderson) face. Rep. Joe Heck had tried hard to have it both ways on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). But after 16 months of dancing around the issue, Rep. Heck finally publicly embraced the 21st Century Know Nothings last month when he allowed his staff to call the police on immigrant rights activists. Rep. Heck then doubled down on this earlier this month by personally dismissing immigrant rights activists in Boulder City.



And now, Heck's 21st Century Know Nothing base is exploding in rage over children. Yet while he's been busy pandering to them, other NV-03 residents have been waiting to be heard. Yesterday, they paid a visit to Rep. Heck's Henderson adjacent district office.



Remember that while politicians & pundits are screaming over #BorderChildren (and failing to note their own role in creating this crisis), we're witnessing tragedies unfold throughout the nation. American families have had to live in fear of being torn apart. And yes, American kids must live in fear of having their DREAMs ripped to shreds.

Immigrants come here seeking a better life. They come for various reasons, and they come from different parts of the world. But ultimately, they come here seeking "The American Dream".



Hell, this has been happening for over 500 years. Unless you're Native American, your ancestors were immigrants. Even Rep. Heck has acknowledged that his grandparents immigrated from Italy. Does he realize what they experienced when they came here?





Think about it. Rep. Heck's ancestors came to America seeking a better life. Our ancestors came to America seeking a better life. US immigration law has frequently changed over the past 238 years. And the first European immigrants to America were "illegal" in that they were confiscating tribal lands.

So really, who are we to break up American families? Who are we to denigrate refugee children? And who are Rep. Heck and his Congressional colleagues (particularly the "TEA" flavored ones) to lecture everyone else on immigration policy? Think about that.

Imagine

Imagine living your life as you think you know it. You're sure you know who you are. And you're quite sure where you want to go with your future and what you want to do with your life.

Now imagine watching all of that suddenly fade away. Suddenly, you're no longer feeling so secure. Suddenly, you're unsure of your own future. Suddenly, you can relate to the story of Jose Antonio Vargas and the millions of other DREAMers living in this nation.



Just this morning, Jose Antonio Vargas was arrested and detained by US Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas. Ironically, Vargas was there to report on the Central American refugee crisis. It didn't take long for Vargas himself to become part of the story.

But then again, Jose Antonio Vargas himself is a refugee. His family brought him into the US so he could escape the poverty he was enduring in the Philippines and build a better life. He didn't even know he was undocumented until he was 16.

And he's not alone. Many more refugees have come here seeking asylum and hoping for a fresh start. And while a Kenyan woman recently succeeded in attaining legal status, millions more LGBTQ immigrants are living in limbo and waiting for the opportunity to emerge from the shadows.



And they're not alone. Bryan Rivera's mother just wanted her son to succeed. When she sued her abusive ex for child support, he turned her in to ICE. Bryan had to seek the aid of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) to free his mother from Henderson Detention Center.

Imagine having the solution to this problem right at your desk. And imagine that solution also holding the potential to boost the economy. Now imagine that solution being smothered to death in the lower House of Congress because the 21st Century Know Nothings don't want any solutions.



If Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) and his House Republican colleagues truly care about finding a comprehensive solution to this complex problem, they know exactly where to find it. Oh, and where might that be? Try HR 15.

They don't need to imagine something else. They can simply take up what's been waiting for them since October. And they can actually be productive for a change. Now imagine that.

They Are Real People.

These are children. These are families. Keep that in mind.

They are real people. Don't forget that. We know it's easy to forget this when the usual "TEA" fueled blowhards, pundits, & spinners take to the airwaves to scream about conspiratorial nonsense.



These are children. These are families. These are people. They're not Rick Perry's personal political punching bags.

G-O-TEA politicians & pundits are busy attacking President Obama (and threatening to impeach him) because he "refuses to act". Never mind that the President has already sent a $3.7 billion emergency appropriations bill to Congress to address the current Central American migrant crisis. Never mind that the President is taking some heat from human rights advocates for proposing to deport so many of these refugees. And never mind that the solution so many Congressional Republicans claim they want has been on their desks for the past year, just waiting for their action: S 744/HR 15.

The US Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) just over a year ago. The bill they passed, S 744, has been awaiting House action. Last fall, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) and a bipartisan coalition of his House colleagues introduced HR 15 as a companion bill to S 744. For 9 months, HR 15 has been sitting in some dark House Committee room and waiting for further action. Why won't those allegedly "pro-reform Republicans" (cough- Joe Heck- cough) demand a floor vote for HR 15 now? Why can't they even take the $3.7 billion package that the President is offering them?

S 744 included an additional $30 billion for border security. And that's on top of all the billions in additional border security the federal government has spent in the past 5 years. Oh, and let's not forget the 2,000,000+ immigrants who have been apprehended & deported since President Obama took office.



Let's get real here. This isn't a "border security problem". This isn't an "Obama problem". And while this is a political problem, it's not actually what certain pundits & personalities claim it is.

These are children. These are families. They are real people. They are refugees.

They're not "illegals". They're not "aliens". They're not "garbage" that somehow needs to be "disposed of". They are real people. And it's a damned shame we are having this protracted debate on whether to humanely treat actual human beings.

Troublesome "TEA"

Welcome to the newest G-O-TEA sensation. Seemingly out of nowhere, Dave Brat emerged to make national headlines. And House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Virginia) political career is suddenly over.

Already, the G-O-TEA's finest talking heads are proclaiming today as "The Death of #Shamnesty". Are they correct?

Not really. And here's why. Comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) was already going nowhere fast before yesterday. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has already made that clear. So has Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin). And so has their dear loyal local lackey, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson). They don't actually cherish family values. They just want to remain on good terms with the 21st Century Know Nothings.

House Republican "leaders" never had any real intention of giving CIR a proper floor vote. HR 15 has been sitting there, just waiting for action. Yet every chance Republican "leaders" have been given to act on CIR, they've instead tried to blame someone else for their own inaction.

Yet even as House Republican "leaders" (such as Cantor) were obstructing CIR to death, they were rallying around the "imagery of reform". They were using "softer language". They were "rebranding"...

And even that was too much for the 21st Century Know Nothings. So they rallied around Dave Brat. And they propelled him to victory yesterday.

And now, they're dancing around the corpse of #Shamnesty. There's just one problem with their disgusting happy dance: It's revolting to everyone else. CIR polls well nationwide, even in Virginia's 7th Congressional District. Dave Brat may have capitalized on the 21st Century Know Nothings' unbridled xenophobia in the primary, but his hard line against CIR may hurt him in November.

Rep. Joe Heck should take note of this. Emulating Dave Brat may win him more hard core G-O-TEA fans, but it will lose him general election votes. There truly are consequences to drinking too much of that troublesome "TEA".

Deadline

The video below pretty much sums it all up. What else is there to add? What else can we say?



OK, maybe we have more to say. After all, that's why we have this little corner of the internet.

However, we're just in this little corner of the internet. John Boehner (R-Ohio), however, is House Speaker. He sets the floor agenda. And he can schedule a vote for HR 15 whenever he wants.

So Speaker Boehner wants immigration reform? He can have it! All he has to do is schedule a vote for HR 15.

But, no. Instead of putting his floor schedule where his mouth is, Speaker Boehner continues to play this sordid game of charades. He's still blaming President Obama for Boehner's own caucus refusing to even vote on what already passed the Senate last year. And now, he's also blaming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) for daring to call out Boehner's duplicity on immigration reform.



Republican "leaders" claim they need to "trust the President". President Obama has overseen a record number of deportations under his administration. In fact, this is why immigrant rights activists have asked the President to stop the deportations that are ripping American families and communities apart. And now, it looks like a deadline has been set for the House to act before the President takes further executive action.

Speaker Boehner and his Beltway posse can deny it as much as they want, but this deadline has been set. The only question left is this: Will they meet it, or will they try more excuses? If it's the latter, they will be the ones paying the consequences of missing this deadline.

Charades

Who could have guessed? Who could have figured this would happen? Last year, Congressional Republican "leaders" seemed to be all on board for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). They even managed to finesse some Senate Republicans (including Nevada's Dean Heller) into voting for S 744.

Yet a strange thing happened as S 744 made its way to the House. Even before it passed the Senate, House Republicans passed an amendment to deport DREAMers. Seemingly "pro-reform House Republicans" (like Nevada's Joe Heck) ran away from legislation they seemed to support earlier in the year. When HR 15 was unveiled, only 3 House Republicans agreed to cosponsor it. And a number of allegedly "pro-reform Republicans" (such as Joe Heck) continue to oppose HR 15.

Earlier this year, House Democrats unveiled a discharge petition for HR 15. This was an actual, concrete way to ensure a floor vote on real CIR legislation. Yet again, those supposedly "pro-reform Republicans" failed to sign the discharge petition.

Last month, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) actually mocked his own caucus for failing to pass CIR. He basically called them cowards for playing games with such critical legislation for American families and the US economy. Yet when asked why he hasn't already allowed a floor vote on HR 15, Speaker Boehner reverted to the same answer he's been giving for nearly a year: "It's someone else's fault!"

For nearly a year, House Republicans have been playing this game of charades on immigration reform. They support it... Or do they? What do they mean by "support"? What do they mean by "reform"? Their calls for "immigration reform" always seem to be an enigma wrapped in a riddle covered with mystery veiled by confusion.

Early last year, some pundits were wondering whether CIR was ever truly viable in the G-O-TEA run House. Now, it looks like their doubts are being validated. House Republican "leaders" are just too afraid of their own 21st Century Know Nothing base to allow any CIR to pass the House.

So we're left with this game of charades. Will they or won't they? Who means what? Is there truly any there there?

Maybe there is something there there? One House Republican, Jeff Denham (R-California), has proposed the ENLIST Act to allow legal status for undocumented immigrants to serve in the military. But of course, Boehner and his lieutenants have pledged to kill this bill. And not even Rep. Denham has signed the discharge petition for the full CIR bill (HR 15) he cosponsors.

So is there any there there? Or is this just one sick game of charades? It remains to be seen when House Republicans will stop playing these games and start... You know, doing their job.

Principles v. Excuses

Principles are important. Principles indicate values. And principles form the foundation of something.

Early this year, House Republican leaders announced their "principles for immigration reform". This was nearly a year after they promised action on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). And this was after they began voting on "TEA" tinged legislation meant to derail CIR.

So far, those "principles for immigration reform" have taken them nowhere. They're still standing in the way of CIR. They won't even allow a simple floor vote for HR 15. All they've allowed for are worthless excuses.

Excuses are meaningless. Excuses indicate nothing (except perhaps sloth). And excuses form the foundation of nothing.

Perhaps that's why even the US Chamber of Commerce is admitting that the Republican Party it used to know & love (but now just uses whenever it's convenient) is likely screwed for 2016. By p**sing all over 21st century America, G-O-TEA politicians are only handicapping their next Presidential Nominee.

Of course, readers here already know this. And deep down, even House Speaker John Boehner (R-Which Way Is the Wind Blowing?) knows this. But because he's afraid to offend the 21st Century Know Nothings who comprise his party's base, he's stuck in this conundrum of his own making.

It doesn't have to be this way. All he has to do to break this synthetic logjam on CIR is to allow a mere floor vote on HR 15. If he's telling the truth about the "vast majority of Republicans" wanting CIR, then he should give them the chance to vote for HR 15. If he truly wants to give a helping hand to Rep. Joe Heck (R-??!!) and other supposed pro-CIR Republicans in his caucus, then he should give them the opportunity to vote for HR 15.

It's that simple. No really, it is. There's no need to complicate this.

Either House Republican "leaders" actually believe in their principles... Or they have nothing to offer but excuses. They can't have it both ways. And if they keep trying to have it both ways, they'll be the ones paying the price.

Empty Words

Just when we finally figured he was acknowledging reality, he backtracked. Again. And we're pretty much back where we originally thought we were.

Last week, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) openly mocked his own House Republican Caucus for refusing to pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). For a moment, it looked like Speaker Boehner was finally admitting in public what everyone on Capitol Hill discusses in private. And maybe, just maybe, there was finally an opening for CIR to pass the House.

But alas, it's not to be. Even after publicly mocking his own members, Speaker Boehner is once again declaring CIR dead in his lower House of Congress. Once again, his words have been proven to be empty. And once again, he's trying to blame President Obama for something Boehner himself admitted his party has done.

So we're back where we thought we always were. House Republican "leaders" occasionally make a big splash over their alleged "principles for immigration reform"... Only to kill their own zombie-fied "principles" over and over and over again because "argle bargle- OBAMA SCANDAL!!!- argle bargle".

So CIR is officially... Still available. No really, HR 15 still awaits action in the House. All it needs is for supposed "pro-reform Republicans" like Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) to sign its discharge petition.

American families like Isaac Lugo's, Maria Esmeralda Conejo's, and Bryan Rivera's have been waiting far too long for craven (& often hypocritical) politicians to go beyond mere lip service. They've been waiting for real, concrete reform. And even though it's been 10 months since S 744 passed the Senate, the House still hasn't followed through on that long ago promised companion bill.

These American families don't need any more empty words. Neither do our communities. Neither does our economy. We need real reform. And if Speaker Boehner insists on providing nothing but more empty words, then those supposedly "pro-reform Republicans" need to stop uttering empty words and start offering real action.

Out of Excuses

So we're not the only ones who recognize the incredibly f**ked up state of the Republican Party today. None other than House Speaker John Boehner (R-Where's He Been?) is chiding his own party for failing to pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). No really, he went there.



Apparently, he doesn't remember that he's Speaker of the House. He's supposed to set the floor agenda. And he can bring HR 15 to the House floor whenever he wants.

So why hasn't he? Speaker Boehner clearly sounds upset over his Congressional G-O-TEA colleagues constantly scuttling reform. So why not just bypass them? If all the "pro-reform Republicans" actually vote for reform, then HR 15 will pass and CIR will be ready for President Obama to sign into law.

What's so complicated about this? Oh, wait. That's right. The 21st Century Know Nothings. House Republican "leaders" just won't stop pandering to them.

But they don't have to. Again, Speaker Boehner is supposed to be in charge. If he truly wants to pass CIR, he can bring HR 15 to the House floor so the House can finally accomplish what the Senate already did 10 months ago.

Over the past year, we've heard Rep. Joe Heck (R-Where's He Been?) pay lip service to "supporting reform". Why can't Speaker Boehner give them the chance to actually do it? Or if Speaker Boehner really doesn't want to "get his hands dirty over this", why can't he at least let them sign the discharge petition for HR 15?

Might Speaker Boehner finally be realizing that he & his G-O-TEA House Caucus are out of excuses? They've tried everything to deflect blame. They've blamed President Obama. They've blamed the Senate. They've blamed CIR activists. And now, they're at the point of blaming their own unhinged base.

Instead of playing this never ending blame game, why don't they just pass HR 15 already? Instead of dumping tons of money into misleading ad campaigns, why don't they try passing useful legislation for a change? It's painfully obvious that House Republicans are out of excuses. So why won't they simply allow a floor vote for the CIR they claim to want?

27.

27. That now looks to be the magic number. House Democratic leaders need 27 more signatures on their HR 15 discharge petition. Once they reach 218, they can secure a floor vote for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

27. That's the number that can make a huge difference for families like Astrid Silva's and Bryan Rivera's.



27. If Rep. Joe Heck (R-????) and 26 other House Republicans simply sign the petition for something they've already claimed to support, CIR can finally pass the House. And since most House members have already said they support CIR in theory, it shouldn't be so hard to put it into practice.

So why has it been so hard? Well, why has it been so hard for the "Republican establishment" to muzzle the likes of Rand Paul? Why has it been so hard for the "establishment" to steer the 21st Century Know Nothings away from the siren songs of Laura Ingraham? Why has it been so hard for House Republican "leaders" to stand up for their own "principles for immigration reform"?

Short answer: They don't want to meet the same fate that's run right into Jeb Bush's 2016 campaign plans.



Longer answer: It's easier for G-O-TEA politicians to pander to the Culture Warrior Id than it is for them to publicly challenge this id. So they either keep quiet on CIR, or they flat out reject any real option for CIR. They'd rather placate their "TEA" powered base and hoodwink all the rest of us with "Republican rebranding" than make any real effort to become more compatible with 21st century America.

This is why CIR has been left to die in the House by Republican "leaders" in that chamber. They're too afraid of their own base.

Yet with that being said, this doesn't mean CIR must die. This doesn't mean that individual House Republicans have no choice but leave CIR to die on the "TEA" poisoned vine.

All HR 15 needs is 27 more House members to sign that discharge petition. And the 30 or so House Republicans who have been asked to sign the discharge petition should look at it this way: 27 may ultimately be the number that determines the future national viability of their Republican Party. Do they really want to be one of the 27 who stands in way of not only keeping American families together, but also keeping the Republican Party as an integral force in America's political system?

27. That's all HR 15 needs for a House floor vote. So why won't House Republicans just release 27 members from their caucus in order to save not just CIR, but also their own party?

Can't "Rebrand" Real Values

They've made every possible excuse not to act. They've done everything possible to block a simple floor vote. Yet they're claiming the President is about to "spoil the well"? Clearly, they still haven't realized they can't have it both ways.

House Republican "leaders" have gone out of their way to take every step possible to kill comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). And they've are it clear for some time that they don't want HR 15 anywhere near the House floor. But now, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Agent Orange) is actually claiming President Obama will "spoil the well" if he takes any executive action to curb the record pace of deportations that have occurred under his watch.

Yet when Speaker Boehner is confronted over when his lower House of Congress will ever pass any kind of CIR, he says it won't happen... Because of President Obama! So let's try to understand John Boehner's incredibly twisted (lack of) logic here. The House can't pass what the Senate already passed over nine months ago because "Obama is a poopyhead!" But if President Obama tries to minimize the damage that's done thanks to the House's failure to pass CIR, that will jeopardize any (already nonexistent) chance of Boehner agreeing to any CIR? Seriously, how does any of this make sense?

There's a reason why the President is facing growing calls for executive action to curb deportations. It's because his administration has already been vigorously enforcing current immigration law since he first took office in 2009. And it's because millions of American families (like Bryan Rivera's) are at constant risk of being torn apart as long as the status quo remains in place.

The status quo is unsustainable. It's hurting families, hurting communities, and hurting our economy. But wait, aren't Republicans supposed to be the "family values" & #4jobs party?

Maybe not. As long as they're blocking real pro-family & pro-growth policies, it's hard to take any of their homilies to "values" seriously. And no amount of "Republican rebranding" can actually hide their real values.

Inexcusable

"Deporter-in-chief"? Again? Why are we hearing this again? What is President Obama doing?

The New York Times published this morning an title detailing the evolution of federal enforcement of immigration law since Congress' failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) in 2006. Once the Bush Administration recognized CIR was going nowhere in Congress any time soon, it began stepping up ICE crackdowns all across the nation. And even after George W. Bush turned over The White House to Barack Obama in January 2009, the Obama Administration decided to make some tweaks to ICE policies... But nonetheless continue tough & broad enforcement.

In 2012, President Obama seemed to be turning a corner when he announced DACA. Even as many DREAM Act eligible immigrants (that is, they would benefit from the DREAM Act if it were law) have found a reprieve from living in constant fear thanks to DACA, their parents, friends, neighbors, and other family members still live in fear. Even since DACA was first announced, we've witnessed even more ICE raids and deportations.



Since President Obama first took office, nearly 2 million immigrants have been rounded up and deported. This is why we saw "Two Million Too Many" protests sweep across the nation this past weekend. Immigrant rights activists are again calling on President Obama to curb his administration's record breaking pace of deportations.

Yet even as pro-CIR activists protest President Obama's record number of deportations, the 21st Century Know Nothings are calling for even more deportations while claiming President Obama is "not enforcing the law" (cough- Joe Heck- cough- Paul Ryan- cough). And why are they flat out denying the facts and calling for even more of what's already happening? Apparently, it's something about "slaves" and "amnesty" and "drug mules". Oh, and let's not forget "libertarian populism" and "Republican rebranding".

No wonder why Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) couldn't take any more insani-TEA. He recently took to the House floor to ask his Republican colleagues to finally get their act together on CIR... Or force President Obama to take further executive action to halt the deportations that are tearing American families apart and ripping entire American communities to shreds.



At least Rep. Jeff Denham (R-California) paid attention. Last fall, he joined a couple other House Republicans, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Fierce), and the vast majority of House Democrats to cosponsor HR 15. And last week, he offered a modest amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would allow DREAMers to obtain legal status by way of military service. His G-O-TEA colleagues killed that amendment.



And remember, this was after House Republicans (including Denham & Heck) voted in unison against CIR on the House floor. Never mind that American families like Bryan Rivera's suffer while the lower House of Congress dithers on CIR and forces President Obama into an incredibly difficult conundrum of whether to strictly enforce current law or try to alleviate the unnecessary hardship of these families. It's inexcusable that the lower House of Congress continues to waste time on ridiculous bullshit before skipping town for an 18 day vacation.

Seriously? Do they really need another 18 day vacation while so many American families are worrying over whether they can even stay in their homes? How much more inexcusable can their behavior become? And how can they criticize President Obama over any further action he takes when they refuse to fulfill their Constitutional duty and act themselves?

Unavoidable

Who knew one bill could cause this much ruckus? Who thought one bill that was never expected to pass the House could scare House "leadership" so much? And who figured one bill that's often deemed "hopeless" by many media pundits could determine the future of an entire political party?

Meet HR 15. House Republican "leaders" have done everything possible to kill it. Rep. Joe Heck (R-Backbench) has said everything possible to excuse his inaction on it. And the national Republican Party has tried everything possible to "rebrand" it away.

Yet try as they might, they still haven't succeeded in killing HR 15. And now that House Democrats have already collected 190 signatures for their HR 15 discharge petition, it's become completely unavoidable.

It wasn't that long ago when House Republican "leaders" themselves declared their interest in passing comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). And earlier this year, they tried to wow everyone with their "principles for immigration reform". Yet despite their occasionally lofty rhetoric, they've failed to match that rhetoric with action.

Instead, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-P90X) boasted about killing his own "principles". And even after declaring his "support" for CIR, Ryan nonetheless recently voted twice against reform: first on the House floor to defeat a parliamentary maneuver to move HR 15 forward, and again in the House Budget Committee to reject inclusion of the measure to reduce the federal budget deficit by $900 billion in his House Budget (that's destined to go nowhere). (And FYI, Rep. Joe Heck also voted against CIR on the House floor.)

House Republicans have been trying so hard to evade this one bill. They've yet to realize that HR 15, along with the larger issues behind it, is unavoidable. No amount of parliamentary parsing and/or silly "rebranding" can change this reality.

They can't have it both ways. They can't pander to Latin@ voters with vague promises of reform while simultaneously pandering to their 21st Century Know Nothing base with real, concrete anti-immigrant/anti-reform votes. They must eventually make the unavoidable decision: Will they finally allow a floor vote for CIR, or will they eventually admit that they never really wanted to pass any kind of CIR?

Who knew one bill could so forcefully call out House Republicans' duplicity on immigration reform? Apparently, HR 15 is. And this truth is increasingly becoming unavoidable.

Prove It

They can't say they weren't warned. We already talked about it yesterday. And it finally emerged today.

Of course, we're talking (again) about the discharge petition for HR 15. It finally dropped today. And even as DC pundits speculate on what will result of this, they are starting to realize that comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) remains far from "dead".



Of course, that's what House Republican "leaders" were banking on earlier this year. That's why they thought they could get away with killing their own "principles for immigration reform". And that's why they thought they could get away with hemming & hawing whenever asked about when they'll ever move on CIR.

But really, did they think they could indefinitely move the goal posts on CIR? Did they really think they could forever avoid the hot seat? This is what Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) reminded his colleagues of earlier today.



Reps. Steven Horsford and Dina Titus (D-Paradise) have already signed the discharge petition. They've made it clear they want a House floor vote on CIR. And they've proven they truly want a chance to pass CIR this year.

It remains to be seen if House Republicans will back up any of their pro-reform rhetoric with real action. Ever since they released their "principles for immigration reform", they've only managed to pass 2 anti-immigrant bills. And even as Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) and a few other House Republicans have claimed to "support reform", they've yet to prove it with their votes.



Now, they have a chance to do so. Now, they have a chance to prove their commitment to passing CIR. All they have to do is sign the discharge petition. All they have to do is give all their colleagues a chance to vote on the floor.

It's been 9 months since the Senate passed bipartisan CIR legislation. There's no reason why we've had to wait this long for the House to take action. But at least now, a vehicle exists for the House to finally pass CIR this year. If House Republicans truly want us to believe they want CIR as much as the rest of us, they can now prove it by signing the discharge petition and allowing a floor vote.

Make a Difference

It's quite well known by now. And whoever doesn't know this yet is about to get schooled. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) is fierce. When he's not charming us with cupcakes or inspiring our kids at school, he's serving us bad@ss legislator realness. And we are officially living for it!

Today, he reminded us again why it's a shame that he can't do more in the House of Representatives. Even as a minority party freshman in that chamber, Rep. Horsford has managed to make a difference in advancing a number of important policies on Capitol Hill. One of those policies happens to be in the bill number we should all know by heart now: HR 15.

Last week, Rep. Horsford reminded us of the necessity of HR 15 when he did his part to help Bryan Rivera get his mother out of jail. Even though his father was the one who abused his mother and failed to pay child support, he turned her in to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). Bryan then shared his family's story at Horsford's immigration reform town hall. And while Bryan Rivera's mother was ultimately able to reunite with her son, Rep. Horsford used this as a teaching moment to show us exactly why comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) is so badly needed.

Today, Rep. Horsford took this message back to where it belongs: Capitol Hill. He was joined by Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-California), Judy Chu (D-California), and Joe Crowley (D-New York) to discuss House Democrats' next steps on HR 15 and CIR in general.



Remember when we discussed the Congressional procedure known as the discharge petition? That's what House Democrats will now be using for HR 15. If Senators Dean Heller (R) & Harry Reid (D) could join 13 other Republican Senators and 53 other Democratic Senators to pass S 744, why can't the House at least hold a floor vote on HR 15?

After all, House Republican "leaders" claim to
care about "family values". HR 15 would help keep American families together if passed. They also claim to care about "fiscal responsibility". HR 15 would lower the federal budget deficit by $900 billion in the next 20 years if passed. And again, HR 15 is firmly rooted in the bipartisan CIR plan that's already passed the Senate, attracted the support of numerous prominent Democrats & Republicans, and enjoys widespread public support. Why can't a bill like this have a floor vote?

House Republicans are still struggling to answer that question. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) has tried blaming President Obama. Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) has tried blaming local CIR activists. And House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has tried blaming everyone (but himself, of course). Yet while they've tried and tried and tried again to deflect blame onto someone, anyone else, they've failed to make any real effort to put together their own CIR plan that can pass Congress.

No wonder why Rep. Steven Horsford and House Democratic leaders have had enough of the G-O-TEA's tiresome temper tantrums & pointless pity parties. If they truly want CIR, then they know exactly how to achieve it. It will just involve less hot air and more real action.

Rep. Horsford doesn't have to charge so hard on CIR, or on any other major issue for that matter. After all, he's a minority party freshman in what's become the lower House of Congress. He could have easily chosen to fade into the background and enjoy the easy backbencher life. However, he didn't choose that path. He chose this one. And he's clearly out to make a difference.

And if certain alleged "pro-reform" Republicans want to join him in making a difference, they know exactly how to do so. They can start by signing the discharge petition.

Plenty to Say

This was no ordinary town hall meeting. Three members of Congress came to North Las Vegas City Hall on Monday to listen to Nevadans who had plenty to say on the state of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) on Capitol Hill. They also discussed the real hardship their families and communities face due to sweeping ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids and deportations.



Bryan Rivera shared his story on Monday. He spoke about his mother, who was being physically abused by his father. When she sought a way out, her abusive spouse reported her to ICE. She was then held at Henderson Detention Center for nearly a month, even though she was the domestic abuse victim.

It took Bryan Rivera's testimony at this hearing, then pressure on ICE from Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas), to free Bryan Rivera's mother from Henderson Detention Center. She can now prepare her legal appeal to stay in the US, and Bryan can finally resume his studies at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. But as Jon Ralston pointed out yesterday, they're fortunate in that they happened to meet the right people at the right time. Sadly, most families dealing with our current immigration system are not this fortunate.

And those American families will face even more hardship if House Republicans get their way. They voted last week for two anti-immigrant bills meant to challenge President Obama's ability to use discretion when enforcing current immigration law. Basically, they want to undo DACA. And they want to deport more immigrants like Bryan Rivera's mother.

Just before the House voted on its latest & greatest anti-immigrant bills, Rep. Dina Titus (D-Paradise) had something to say about the House G-O-TEA's latest counterproductive stunt.



And by the way, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Flip-flop) voted for both of the anti-CIR bills. So what part of "can't have it both ways" doesn't he understand?

While Rep. Heck and his fellow G-O-TEA Culture Warriors always have excuses for killing their own damned "principles for immigration reform", they never seem to offer any real reform. And they wonder why no one believes them any more? Must they wonder why a discharge petition for CIR is underway?

If Rep. Heck and the handful of other House Republicans who claim to want CIR actually want to move CIR forward, they know what to do. Too many American families are facing too much unnecessary hardship due to the lower house's inaction. They've had plenty to say on immigration reform. But now, it's time to act (and not in a counterproductive way).

History Repeating Itself

During this past weekend, Irish eyes were smiling. Plenty of folks picked out their best green to wear today. Shamrocks are suddenly en vogue again. And...

The Irish Prime Minister lobbied for US immigration reform in DC? No really, Enda Kenny, Ireland's Prime Minister, took to Capitol Hill to ask Congress to move on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). He and Irish-American activists especially focused on House Republicans. And they reminded everyone on Capitol Hill that Irish immigrants & workers are counting on CIR just as much as immigrants from elsewhere.

But will "The Luck of the Irish " do the trick this time? Perhaps... Not. Once again, the G-O-TEA run lower house of Congress passed two anti-immigrant bills meant to shame President Obama on DACA. Yet ironically, they pulled this stunt just as pro-CIR activists were again urging the President to curb the incredibly high amount of deportations occurring under his watch (even since DACA was first announced).

This is why Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) and other CIR advocates on The Hill cheered activists as they delivered another petition to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last week. While Speaker Boehner and other House Republican "leaders" have touted their "principles for immigration reform", they've also abandoned their own "principles". And now that House Republican "leaders" have let the 21st Century Know Nothings dictate immigration policy there, they're claiming they'll perhaps consider reform... In 2015.

Really? Wasn't 2013 supposed to be the "prime opportunity for Republicans" to act on CIR? Wasn't the Senate's smooth passage of the bipartisan S 744 supposed to mean something in that other House of Congress? Was all the movement on CIR truly for naught? And since House Republicans have already broken their promise to act last year, why is anyone supposed to believe them now when they claim they'll act next year? And how are we supposed to know their action won't be like the action they took in 2005?

Perhaps this is all just history repeating itself. After all, this isn't the first time when immigrants coming to America faced legal challenges, economic hardship, and discrimination upon arriving here. Perhaps the visiting Irish Prime Minister had this history in mind when he visited Washington, DC, last week. It remains to be seen if G-O-TEA politicians there will decide to repeat history (again).

Where the Blame Lies

Every so often, we hear from certain media pundits on how certain politicians truly "support immigration reform". Yet when push comes to shove, we always hear excuses from them as they try to deflect blame onto someone else. What a definition of "support".

Yet unlike those politicians who try to have it both ways on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) (cough- Joe Heck -cough), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Fierce) is truly all in for reform. He doesn't just talk the talk. He also makes sure to walk the walk.

He proved his commitment to CIR again yesterday when he stood outside The Capitol to speak to CIR advocates who were about to deliver a petition to House Speaker John Boehner (R-"Liquid Courage") demanding a floor vote for CIR.



While Republicans keep debating each other on immigration, CIR is languishing in the lower House of Congress. G-O-TEA "leaders" there promised "principles for immigration reform", but instead delivered more flip-flops full of tired excuses. And now, they have nothing to show for all their lofty rhetoric.

Yet as G-O-TEA politicians keep debating each other on the politics and the rhetoric of reform, millions of American families are suffering the consequences of (the lower House of) Congress' failure to act on CIR. Families are being torn apart. Communities are being drained. And local authorities are left to try to fill the void caused by Congress' failure to pass CIR.

So we can't blame Rep. Horsford for losing whatever respect he had left for his House's G-O-TEA "leadership". And we can't blame activists who have lost faith in that very "leadership's" ability to lead. We do, however, blame those shifty politicians who keep trying to have it both ways while ultimately producing nothing. That's where the blame properly lies.

No, He Can't Have It Both Ways.

We've heard this before. We've heard this so many times it's become predictable. Yet for some reason, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) keeps trying to have it both ways on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). He says he's for it, yet does nothing to pass it.

We saw this song & dance routine again last night at Rep. Heck's Green Valley High School town hall meeting. When asked by constituents why he hasn't voted for CIR already, he reiterated his "support"... Then proceeded to offer excuses for the House's failure to address CIR.





Several constituents asked Rep. Heck about the status of CIR in the House. And from there, it quickly went downhill for him.



Apparently, we're not the only ones who remember Rep. Joe Heck's promising words on CIR exactly one year ago. And we're not the only ones who remember Rep. Heck's vote to deport DREAMers last June, as that was also brought up last night. Oh, and quite a few of the town hall attendees also remembered Rep. Joe Heck's renewed call for CIR last August.

Yet later that month at another town hall meeting, Rep. Joe Heck backed away and promoted a "step by step approach". Yet despite his promises that would result in overall CIR, the House has failed to pass any sort of immigration reform (other than the anti-CIR "Deport DREAMers" amendment mentioned above). That's why NV-03 constituent Ron Nelsen asked him to just sign a discharge petition for HR 15 already.



Last night, Rep. Heck dared the audience to name any House Republican who's done more for CIR than he has. Off the top of our heads, we can name three: Jeff Denham (R-California), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), and David Valadao (R-California). Unlike Heck, they already agreed to cosponsor HR 15. And if they, Heck, and 20 more House Republicans sign a discharge petition for HR 15, they can then pass CIR once & for all.

They can't say the votes aren't there. After all, CIR arch nemesis Steve King (R-Iowa) admitted earlier this month that the votes exist to pass CIR.

And in a shocking turn of events, even Senator Dean Heller has broken his silence on the House's failure to pass CIR. The Reno Gazette Journal's Ray Hagar caught Senator Heller speaking with CIR advocates in Reno yesterday. And at that gathering, Senator Heller clearly indicated that the House has the votes to pass CIR.

So what's holding it up? Last night, Heck attempted to deflect blame onto President Obama, CIR advocates, the Senate (Hear that, Senator Dean Heller?), and whoever else he could think of. But ultimately, it's always been House Republicans' choice to kill CIR. Heck, they even decided to kill their own "principles for immigration reform"! So there's no one else Rep. Heck can blame.

Funny enough, Rep. Heck finally declared after a night of frustrating questions, "You can't have it both ways!" He's quite correct on that. And he needs to start taking his own advice. He can't claim he's for CIR, then stand with his "leadership" and make excuses for their decision to kill CIR. If he truly wants reform, then he must make the effort to pass it. He simply can't have it both ways.