House lawmakers take up immigration measure to uncertain but perilous prospects (Excerpts)

By Associated Press, Published: June 30
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee, said he does not foresee a [comprehensive immigration] proposal that could provide a simple mechanism for immigrants here illegally to earn full standing as U.S. citizens, as many Democrats have demanded. Goodlatte's committee members have been working on bills that address individual concerns but have not written a comprehensive proposal to match the Senate's effort.
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Illustrating the strong opposition among conservative lawmakers in the House, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said flatly: "The Senate bill is not going to pass."
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House Speaker John Boehner has ruled out taking up the Senate bill and said the Republican-controlled chamber would chart its own version of the legislation with a focus on border security.
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"Will he allow a small group, maybe even a majority of his caucus, to control the debate and the future on this issue?" asked Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. "If he decides to do that, we will then end in a stalemate and an impasse once again."
But an immigration bill could be trouble for Boehner's rank-and-file members.
"They fear Republican primaries from the right if they vote ‘yes,'" said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
But Democrats were unlikely to yield on their principles, warned Schumer, who helped write the Senate bill.
"No Democrat will vote for any bill without a path to citizenship," Schumer said.
Democrats in the House, though, urged their GOP colleagues to keep working toward an immigration overhaul despite its political risks and fierce intraparty infighting.
"I know it's going to be a tough slog in the House. I've seen what's been going on in that place," said Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md. "But we can get this done and have to get it done for the country."
Goodlatte and Gutierrez spoke to CNN's "State of the Union." Pelosi was interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press." Gowdy, McCain and Schumer were on "Fox News Sunday." Edwards appeared on ABC's "This Week."