Immigration Law & News: White House Aide Says Speaker Boehner Is Not Committed to Immigration Bill Vote
A White House aide confirmed Friday that House Speaker John Boehner is not committed to pushing through a vote on the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill this year.
Some questions have been raised as of late about Boehner's intentions due to a recent quote by a White House aide, USA Today reports.
A Las Vegas newspaper quoted White House aide Valerie Jarrett, who apparently suggested that Boehner would call a vote on the bill this summer.
"I think we have a window this summer, between now and August, to get something done," Jarrett told a conference of investors. "We have a commitment from Speaker Boehner, who's very frustrated with his caucus."
Journalists asked about the comments, so Jarrett tweeted that her comments were "lost in translation -- I said Boehner has made commitment to trying, not that he has made commitment to us or time frame."
Boehner's aides say he has never committed to going through with the vote. They added that Boehner believes that President Obama must prove that he will be committed to increasing border security.
"Republicans are committed to reforming our immigration system, but as the speaker has said repeatedly, it's difficult to see how we make progress until the American people have faith that President Obama will enforce the law as written," said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel.
A comprehensive immigration reform bill was passed by the Senate last June. Since then, the Obama administration and House Democrats have been trying to pressure the Republican-controlled House into voting on the comprehensive reform bill.
However, most Republicans are opposed to the bill, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for the country's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, as well as increase border security.
Boehner has previously said that he is against voting on the bill because is not confident that Obama will uphold strict immigration regulations.
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