House signals no deal on guest workers
Despite Senate action Monday on bipartisan legislation that combines border protection with a guest-worker program for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, there appears to be no appetite in the House for a worker or amnesty deal, according to leadership officials. In any compromise between pending Senate legislation and the already passed House plan, said a key official, there most likely won't be a guest-worker program.
"I just don't think that will be in the House proposal. There isn't support for that," said one insider. Instead, House aides predict that the two sides will adopt only what's common in their bills and leave any plan for guest workers or amnesty to future legislation. That would be a disappointment for Bush administration officials and Senate Republicans hopeful of some type of program for illegals to move toward citizenship.
But in a compromise now being discussed by some GOP members, the trade-off would be softening House efforts to build a fence on the southern border and deporting illegals, moves moderates in the party fear would result in a revolt by Hispanics against Republicans in the midterm elections.