Two Republicans Quit House Immigration Group

Two Republicans have departed what once was a bipartisan group of eight House members working to draft an immigration reform package.

With the departure of Texas GOP Reps. John Carter and Sam Johnson, the group is pretty much toast, Politico reports. "Yes, this is it for this group," a Democratic aide told the news service.

The two Republicans said in a statement that President Barack Obama is to blame for their decision, according to Politico. "We want to be clear. The problem is politics," they said.

"Instead of doing what’s right for America, President Obama time and again has unilaterally disregarded the U.S. Constitution, the letter of the law and bypassed the Congress – the body most representative of the people, in order to advance his political agenda."

Carter and Johnson also encountered opposition to their work on immigration reform while in their districts during the August recess, a GOP source told Politico.

The Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, an anti-illegal immigration group, has withdrawn its endorsements of Carter and Johnson.

GOP Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, left the group in June, leaving only one Republican now, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida.

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