Senate’s reform is valid

Two more Republicans dropped out of the bipartisan group of lawmakers that is drafting an immigration reform bill in the House of Representatives, which eliminated the potential to produce a bill with broad support.

This means there won’t be a comprehensive bill similar to the Senate’s bill, with its border reinforcement and path to citizenship—a negotiated proposal that has the backing of a large majority of Americans, as opinion polls show.

The explanations that Congressmen John Carter and Sam Johnson gave for leaving the group—that President Obama does not respect laws and that working on a reform deal is not worth it—attack the president to justify their own inability to achieve something positive. This strategy reflects the philosophy of action of one of the most inept Congresses in recent times.

It is true that the House Republican leadership has allowed a partial focus on reform in order to be able to emphasize security and set aside legalization with a path to citizenship.

The House is within its rights. However, limiting the options for reform is not doing Americans any favors.

Now that the House really won’t have its own bipartisan bill, it is reasonable to allow for a vote on the Senate’s bill in the plenary, along with other immigration proposals that may be introduced in October.

Americans deserve concrete action like that instead of empty words from those who say they represent the people, but are treating them like children. Lawmakers are hiding the options available to address problems and trying to make their constituents take their own ideological medicines that heal nothing.

If the House of Representatives boasts about representing Americans and their opinions, then it must respect them by allowing a clean vote on the Senate-approved reform. Not doing so would show a hypocritical attitude—and demonstrate fear of the will of the majority.