Immigration Reform this Year?

Can immigration reform get done this year? Although Harry Reid confirmed over the weekend that reform is a high priority this year, Ben Pershing of the Washington Post is doubtful:

With President Obama on an historic foreign trip, a Supreme Court nomination pending and massive health care and climate change bills both percolating on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader  Harry Reid (D-Nev.) managed to make news on a completely separate front yesterday — immigration.

At a press conference with Hispanic leaders to tout Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court candidacy, Reid said a comprehensive immigration bill is “going to happen this session, but I want it this year, if at all possible.” Reid called it one of his three top priorities this year, along with health care and energy.

The Nevadan’s comments certainly delivered headlines. Politico: “Harry Reid wants immigration bill this year.” Dow Jones Newswire: “Reid Says Will Fight For Immigration Reform This Year.” The Hill (atop the front page): “Immigration is added atop heavy agenda.”

Appearing alongside a group of leaders for whom immigration is a top priority, Reid probably got exactly the coverage he wanted. But headlines aside, is immigration reform really likely to hit the Senate floor this year? No.

First, consider everything else the chamber has on its plate. This week, Reid himself ran through the crowded schedule on the Senate floor. Before the July 4th recess, the Senate hopes to pass a tobacco regulation bill and the supplemental spending measure conference report. After that break, the chamber returns for five weeks until the August recess. During that work period, Reid said, “We have appropriations bills we want to work on. We have health care that will likely be worked on during that period of time. We have the DOD authorization, which is extremely important.” He added that the chamber would work and have votes Monday-Friday during that “very long, hard work period.” Click here for the rest of his analysis.

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