After tiff, Obama calls GOP senators to talk immigration

After a public squabble over whether President Obama was in communication with Congress on immigration reform, Mr. Obama today called three key Republican senators to discuss the matter.

Mr. Obama called Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the White House said in a statement, "to discuss their shared commitment to bipartisan, commonsense immigration reform and to commend the Senators for the bipartisan progress that continues to be made by the Gang of 8 on this important issue."

Graham, McCain and Rubio are three of the four Republican senators working with four Democratic senators to craft immigration reform legislation. Mr. Obama did not speak to the fourth Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., because he is traveling today, but the White House said the president looks forward to speaking with him in the near future.

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The White House said the president's phone calls today "build on conversations that have taken place at the staff level."

In a White House briefing earlier today, senior administration officials said "Gang of 8" staff had met at least five times in recent weeks with the White House policy and legislative affairs staff. Rubio's office, however, disputed that claim.

"We've never discussed immigration policy with anyone from the White House," Rubio's spokesman Alex Conant said. "The Administration has sent some agency officials to brief staff at the bipartisan group meetings, but they've never asked for our input. (And, frankly, we've never asked for theirs.) We've never received a call or email from [Mr. Obama's chief domestic policy adviser] Cecilia Munoz or anyone else at the White House asking for our input as they draft their bill."

Republicans contend that if the Obama administration is serious about drafting its own immigration reform proposals, they should be seeking at least some input from the GOP.

Today's phone calls may have at least temporarily improved the White House's relationship with Congress. Conant said on Twitter today that "@MarcoRubio appreciated @BarackObama's call to discuss immigration tonight. Rubio said he feels good about ongoing negotiations in Senate."

[nobs10]

The left is smirking because Americans have all left the 'grass roots' effort that was so strong that they beat the Dream Act. Obama and his many amnesties has them feeling it's no use. What quitters, the Mexicans and illegals are still out full force. Americans who sit by and do nothing are as much to blame as the hater of whites, Obama with his new, true personality.

[Ulgnud]

There is nothing wrong with Immigration law. Lack of enforcement is the problem. Start enforcing the law and send the illegal invaders home. They can come back when legal. And NO Amnesty!

[crashdummy38]

pay for it ??? just charge it as we have been doing during this administration. Time to face the facts, we are ass hole deep in debt with no plans to dig ourselves out of this ever deepening hole.

[Free-To-Speak-Out]

Oh gee....hate to think the President has to lower himself to actually talk to the Republicans over something like a historical change of law, since his pursuit to destroy them is in full swing.

[ammo17]

not for nothing but how do we pay for all this,do we have a secret bank account hidden in the caymans or israel?