The series of Thursday meetings on immigration held by President Obama highlighted the urgency of getting a bill on the table before the window closes to place it on the legislative calendar.
The president maintained his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform, but his support falls short of the expectations. The White House did not commit to the necessary timetable, such as having a bill ready by March 21 so it would be in the Senate Judiciary Committee no later than April 23. This disappoints us, but this attitude is also understandable. The president just heard for the first time the same day, in another meeting, details of the immigration reform bill in preparation for months by Senators Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham, Democrat and Republican, respectively.
The proposed bill has still not been officially released on the argument that it was awaiting more Republican support. Time is short; the process is now a race against the clock if the White House wants to keep its campaign promise of reform by this year.
No one questions the need for immigration reform and a bill with bipartisan support exists. It contains enough to garner support from more lawmakers. The responsibility falls on the Senate, as much with Schumer as with Graham to move this bill forward. The time to delegate responsibilities and pass the blame is over; now is the time to act.
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