``It's going it require some heavy lifting,'' Obama said as he hosted a meeting of about 30 lawmakers whose views on immigration span the ideological spectrum. ``It's going to require a victory of practicality and common sense and good policy making over short-term politics. That's what I'm committed to doing as president.''
A sweeping immigration overhaul was a personal priority for Obama's Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, who was so confident of its chances that he once told reporters, ``I'll see you at the bill signing.''
But the bill collapsed in the Senate in 2007, mostly under the weight of criticism from conservatives who saw it as an amnesty measure for illegal immigrants that was publicly unpopular and politically untenable.
Much of the debate centered on how to deal with the roughly 12 million illegals already living in the United States.
Some believe Republicans are more motivated this time to get on board, as immigration helped energize turnout toward Obama and other Democrats in the 2008 election.
Among the attendees Thursday was Obama's opponent in the presidential election, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a high-profile supporter of immigration reform, a position that cost him support within his own party. But McCain rallied to win the Republican nomination for the presidency and Obama gave him special recognition for paying ``a significant political cost for doing the right thing.''
``There's not by any means consensus across the table,'' Obama said. ``What I am encouraged by is that after all the overheated rhetoric and the occasional demagoguery on all sides around this issue, we've got a responsible set of leaders sitting around the table who want to actively get something done.''
Several lawmakers Democrats and Republicans said after the meeting that this year is the last chance to try again, perhaps for decades.
``We've got one more chance to do this,'' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ``If we fail this time around, no politician is going to take this up in a generation.''
Obama announced that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead a group of lawmakers on the issue from the House and Senate ``to start systematically working through'' the stickiest, most emotional questions.
One of those is whether a worker verification system is needed, such as a fraud-resistent, biometric card to catch employers who employ undocumented workers.
Another is how or whether to create a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants.
Still another tough issue is whether to expand guest worker programs. Business groups support it, but labor union leaders have joined together this time to oppose it. Unions have called for creation of an independent government commission to decide future immigration of temporary and permanent workers based on labor market needs.
But addressing reporters on the White House driveway, McCain said, ``We don't need a commission.'' He said he would not support any bill without an expanded temporary guest worker program, and called on Obama to use his clout with organized labor to get them to ease their opposition.
President Obama with Sen. John McCain at a White House meeting on immigratin reform with members of Congress Thursday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/6/221409