Boehner pessimistic on immigration bill vote

WASHINGTON -- Speaker John Boehner yesterday all but ruled out passage of immigration legislation before this fall's elections, saying it would be difficult for the Republican-led House to act on the issue that President Barack Obama has made a top domestic priority.

In his most pessimistic comments, Boehner blamed the stalemate on widespread skepticism that Obama would properly enforce any immigration reforms that Congress approved.

Many of the GOP leader's own members have balked at acting on the contentious issue, which could enrage core conservative voters in the midterm election year.

"The American people, including many of our members, don't trust that the reform we're talking about will be implemented as it was intended to be," Boehner said.

"The president seems to change the health care law on a whim, whenever he likes. Now, he is running around the country telling everyone he's going to keep acting on his own."

Just last week, Boehner and other House Republican leaders had unveiled broad principles for immigration changes, including legal status for the estimated 11 million immigrants living here illegally, tougher border security and a shot at citizenship for children brought to the U.S. illegally.

National Republicans see the failure to act on immigration as a political drag on the party after 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney captured just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote.

But conservatives rebuffed their leaders and questioned the wisdom of acting this year.

Boehner said Obama has to rebuild trust.

White House spokesman Jay Carney shot back: "The challenges within the Republican Party on this issue are well-known, and they certainly don't have anything to do with the president."

Members of the group of eight senators who drafted the legislation held out some hope. If the House fails to pass legislation, the Senate-passed bill dies at the end of the year.

"I'm still optimistic that we'll get this done," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he was "guardedly optimistic" because "there is overwhelming support from business, from evangelicals, from across the board people we represent."