Via the AP: Hastert Deals Blow to Immigration Bill

Hopes for a quick compromise on immigration were dealt a blow Tuesday after House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he wanted to take a “long look” at a Senate bill offering possible citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Odd, I was unaware anyone who wasn’t under the influence had any “[h]opes of a quick compromise” on this issue. As such, this isn’t all that noteworthy. Indeed, I remain quite skeptical that there is going to be a compromise bill.

It is somewhat sad that “taking a long look” at a complex bill from the Senate in advance of a conference is seen not as standard operating procedure, but rather as a stalling tactic.

It would appear that the House Judiciary Committee may hold hearing on the bill, which I would argue is actually a good idea, although in this case one guesses that the goal is not to learn more about the bill, but instead to engage in political grandstanding on it.

It really does sounds as if the chances of actual legislation emerging on this issue this year are quite small. And if legislation does emerge, I predict that it will be a mess and probably makes things worse, rather than better.