Republicans Threaten to Quit Immigration Group

Republicans in the House bipartisan immigration group threw down the gauntlet Wednesday: they will walk away from negotiations if an agreement isn’t reached Thursday, Politico reports.

Reps. John Carter, R-Texas and Raul Labrador, R-Idaho both agree that the clock has run out on negotiations.

“Tomorrow night, as far as I’m concerned, is the last night I’m gonna meet,” Carter said.

Labrador echoed those sentiments.

“I think it’s time for us to move ahead with a Republican plan if nothing happens tomorrow,” Labrador said.

The group has been at an impasse over how their bill would handle the health care of newly documented workers and worker visas.

Some Democrats also don’t care for a trigger that would shut down the legalization process if an employee verification system is not implemented.

The common view is if the House does not come out with its own plan, immigration reform will be much more difficult to achieve.

If the GOP issues a conservative immigration plan, such a bill would probably not include many of the concessions the group made to Democrats.

Another major sticking point is health care.

Republicans want immigrants on the pathway to citizenship to provide their own health care.

Democrats prefer Senate language, which says immigrants on the pathway cannot receive health care subsidies.

Despite these roadblocks, Carter said Republicans and Democrats in the group have agreed on “95 percent” of an immigration bill.