Last night, as expected, PresidentObama signaled theend of S.744 and the beginning of a new version of ComprehensiveImmigration Reform in his State of the Union address. Lessthan 2 percent of the President’s lengthy speech was about immigration reform. While some pro-immigration forces may seethis as a bad thing, there are others who think that this is the correctapproach in the complex game of politics.
The President and the Senate learnedlast year that nothing can get done without Republican-led House approval. Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) hastaken some quiet steps signaling that he may be serious about immigrationreform, including the hiring of BeckyTallent in December 2013. Ms.Tallent is a long-time advisor to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) who has repeatedlymade reform the United States’ immigration laws a priority.
By not aggressively pushingimmigration reform in the State of the Union, the President is allowing Rep.Boehner the breathing room to line up House Republicans on the issue. The Republicans are not interested in handingthe President a political win. They willonly allow an immigration bill to move if they can get the press to report thatan immigration bill is Republican driven. That would never have happened if the President had demanded that Congressput a bill on his desk.
The odds are still long. Immigration reform is tough. But the President’s lack of discussion on theissue in last night’s address is yet another move in a long game.