In For One Hell Of A Rubio Awakening

Sen. Marco Rubio is finding out that hard truth about the bigots in his own party:  their votes on legislation count just as much as his.

Sen. Marco Rubio acknowledged Tuesday on a conservative radio talk show that the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform bill won’t likely pass the Republican-led House.

The comments from Rubio, perhaps the most influential congressional Republican on immigration, illustrate the challenges facing the prospects for reform after months of private negotiations by a bipartisan coalition of senators produced a wide-ranging, 844-page bill.

“The bill that’s in place right now probably can’t pass the House,” Rubio told Mike Gallagher, a nationally syndicated talk show host. “It will have to be adjusted, because people are very suspicious about the willingness of the government to enforce the laws now.”

And what does Rubio mean by "have to be adjusted"?

Rubio was inviting conservatives to offer proposed changes to strengthen the bill instead of trying to sink it altogether. But of course, given all of the different interest groups with a stake in the debate, changes from the right are likely to cause some consternation on the left that could further complicate negotiations.

So what about efforts in the House? Well, if conservatives there get what they want, it’s unlikely the Democratic Senate would sign off. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said last week he plans chart a narrower path by introducing several small-scale proposals. Democrats hoping for a broad proposal were instantly alarmed over the idea.

House Republicans don't see any downside to sinking immigration reform and blaming Obama.  Given that 90% of House Republicans will be re-elected in 2014, why should they care?  We, the voters, aren't going to do anything.  You're not going to vote your GOP Congressperson out, frankly.  they've rigged it so you can't (thanks, 2010 voters!)

House Republicans realize they can hang Rubio out to dry here, along with Latino voters.  This was always going to be the case with immigration, but as with gun control, the real goal is to get Senate Republicans to kill the deal so that House Republicans don't have to take a vote.  That plan seems to be well underway now...