Boehner: Passing Rubio's DREAM Act would be "difficult at best"

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

(CBS News) House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday said "it would be difficult at best" to pass Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's version of the DREAM Act in Congress, lowering expectations for a policy proposal some have said could help the GOP make inroads with Latinos.

"There's always hope," Boehner told reporters, adding that he spoke with Rubio about the proposal and "found it of interest."

"But the problem with this issue is that we're operating in a very hostile political environment," the GOP leader said. "And to deal with a very difficult issue like this, I think it would be difficult at best."

Latino voters very reliably vote Democratic, but as the voting bloc grows in size and influence, some Republicans have expressed interest in doing more to reach out to Latinos. In a closed-door meeting with supporters recently, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said the GOP should support some version of Rubio's plan, though publicly, Romney hasn't taken a stand on the measure.

The DREAM Act, as proposed by Democrats, would offer upstanding youths who were brought into the United States illegally a way to earn legal status. Versions of the bill have floated through Congress for years. Democrats were pushing a version of the bill in 2010, but Republicans in the Senate managed to kill it with a filibuster.

Rubio, a Cuban American considered a rising star in the GOP, has proposed a scaled-back version that would offer non-immigrant visas to qualified young undocumented immigrants that would allow them to eventually apply for citizenship.

While Boehner played down the bill's prospects, he blamed inaction on immigration on President Obama, who backed the Democratic version of the DREAM Act.

"When the president of the United States runs around the country doing speeches -- he's done a couple of speeches over the last 15 months about immigration," he said. "As a matter of fact, over the last three years, he's done a number of speeches about immigration. Where's the president's immigration plan? Where does the president stand on this issue? Instead of campaigning all the time, maybe he ought to come back to Washington and go to work."

When asked today about Rubio's version of the DREAM Act, White House spokesman Jay Carney pointed out that Rubio's proposal hasn't been introduced as legislation. He said, however, that the president is ready to work with anyone on the issue.

"Now, if Republicans are ready to recognize that we can work together on this issue and if they want to start with the DREAM Act and give young people who have been raised as Americans a path to citizenship so they can serve in our military, put their talent to work in our schools, work in our labs and start businesses, then we should do that," he said.

Carney said the legislation should give qualified youths "a rigorous and thorough process to get right with the law, but one that provides a pathway to citizenship...That's what makes sense, and the president is ready to sign it into law -- such a bill tomorrow."

Carney blamed the lack of action on Republicans.

"It's important to remember that the only reason the DREAM Act is not law right now, the only reason that comprehensive immigration reform is not law right now is because Republicans have consistently demagogued the issue and blocked action in Congress," he said.

[E_Law]

The Dream Act makes sense. The political games don't.

[TJphoto]

Mr. Boehner, anything that's right for this Nation or the electorate is always "difficult at best" for the GOP. If it's something for the 1%, No Problem!

[Obama4more]

See, Bone-head and the Tea Bagger gang could get this through if it meant free labor for the top 1% for 30 years then deportation back to home of origin.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

How could Obama4more be a wealthy democrat since most of the posts seem to always say the democrats are the ones getting all the benefits like food stamps, welfare, etc.?
And by the way why is it that the house is controlled by the republicans, and a republican's bill can't even get past?
And by the way, YOU'RE stupidity DOES NOT AMAZE ANYONE.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

Sweet Pea, take a look at what you did post "You act like the wealthy Democrats". Now take you aluminum hat off and go eat lunch.

[Lindag10]

So the Republicans can't even pass a bill that was the brain child of one of their own because they're too busy nosing around in people's private lives and trying to control women. Oh yeah and tax cuts for the wealthy.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

ZR28, try deaf, your hands are shacking and you're hitting the submit button too many times.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

Oh, well maybe you should have also seen that I used deaf instead of decaff. So why didn't you also find that one.
Yep, you're a republican.

[obiden08]

"But the problem with this issue is that we're operating in a very hostile political environment," the GOP leader said. "And to deal with a very difficult issue like this, I think it would be difficult at best."
===========================
Bahaahaahahahahaha!!!!! Hostile environment. Hell yes you are the ones who created it you moron.

[Obama4more]

GOP message to Latino America: "Dream On!"

[Obama4more]

"And to deal with a very difficult issue like this, I think it would be difficult at best."
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Wow...a difficult issue could be difficult. Yep...and we pay him how much???????