Republican leaders in the House are scrambling to thwart a move by moderate GOP lawmakers to force votes on immigration issues, The Washington Post is reporting.
The House GOP leaders fear a Republican immigration rebellion could derail their legislative agenda and cripple the chances of holding onto the majority in the midterms, according to the newspaper.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. has warned lawmakers that an immigration debate could have strong political consequences.
And those pushing a petition effort to bring immigration to a vote were summoned to a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., McCarthy and three other top leaders, the Post said.
Ryan had asked House Republicans to give him more time to work with President Donald Trump on immigration. Trump wants major concessions in exchange for legalizing dreamers, the newspaper noted.
"Clearly, we have had a positive impact on our leadership and on this institution because this issue is being taken seriously, and people are thinking through how something can be achieved," said Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., who filed the discharge petition that would force votes on a series of immigration bills.
Following the meeting with House leadership, Curbelo said the petition effort will continue, the Post noted.
Reps. John Katko, R-N.Y., and Dave Trott, R-Mich., signed on to the discharge petition Wednesday, becoming the 19th and 20th Republicans to back the petition forcing floor votes on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, immigration and border security bills, The Hill had reported.
Curbelo’s petition would force votes on immigration measures — derailing the usual control of what gets to the floor for a vote by leaders of the majority party.
But Ryan said the discharge petition is "a big mistake," the Post reported. He claimed it disunifies "our majority."
"We want to advance something that has a chance of going into law where the president would support it," he said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., one of the lawmakers who has joined with Curbelo in leading the effort to force a vote, said he is confident more Republicans will be signing the petition, The Hill is reporting.
"I’m not saying when our timeline is," he said. "I’m saying we have enough commitments to make sure we’re going to be successful."
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