AP: “With a solemnity reserved for momentous occasions, the Senate passed historic legislation Thursday offering the priceless hope of citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in America’s shadows. The bill also promises a military-style effort to secure the long-porous border with Mexico.”
But: “The bipartisan vote was 68-32 on a measure that sits atop President Barack Obama’s second-term domestic agenda. Even so, the bill’s prospects are highly uncertain in the Republican-controlled House, where conservatives generally oppose citizenship for immigrants living in the country unlawfully.”
National Journal: “As big a deal as this vote was—and by modern Senate standards it was quite an accomplishment—the day's celebration is very much tempered by the chaos that lies ahead.”
Politico: “Circle July 10 with red ink: It’s now the most important day for immigration reform. That Wednesday is when a hobbled, divided and raucous House Republican Conference will meet in the Capitol basement to figure out how to address the Senate-passed bill. Lawmakers will have just returned from a week in their districts, hearing constituents react to the Senate plan. Leadership expects some will feel a compulsion to move quickly, and others will want to throw on the emergency brake.”
House Speaker John Boehner yesterday reiterated that he would not bring up the Senate bill and anything would have to have majority support from his conference. "The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes," he said.
He then went a step further, saying, “We're going to do our own bill through regular order, and it'll be legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people.”
But the latest NBC/WSJ poll found that 52% of Americans favor a path to citizenship, the biggest sticking point on immigration in the House. That number increases to 65% if the immigrants had to pay penalties and fines, as well as pass a background check and other required steps -- similar to what 68 U.S. senators voted for.
Reid Wilson: “The five groups that spent significant amounts of money on advertising have dropped a total of $5.27 million into their television and radio campaigns since April, the data show. The four big groups opposing the bill spent a total of $1.94 million over the same timeframe.”
Outside groups are going to be trying to keep up the pressure on Congress on immigration reform.
The DCCC is going to be targeting House members who could differ from how the Republican senator in their state voted on immigration. For example, the DCCC will go after Rep. Joe Heck in Nevada, noting that Dean Heller voted for it with the headline, “Congressman Heck Refuses to Bring Up Senator Heller’s Bipartisan Immigration Bill.”
American Bridge is releasing a report this morning called, "Barriers to Reform: The anti-immigrant policies and extremist money blocking progress in the House.” It goes on to ask: "If comprehensive immigration reform is going to succeed, the House of Representatives must decide which side they are on. Will they choose the bipartisan path the Senate followed or are they going to be beholden to anti-immigrant Tea Party extremists?"
Democracy For America boosts Elizabeth Warren’s student-loan bill and notes that some college presidents have gotten on board after the group’s urging.
NBC’s Kasie Hunt and Abigail Williams: Despite proposed deals, “the Senate is unlikely to strike a deal to prevent student loan rates from rising on July 1.”
“Interest rates on some student loans will double on Monday, as Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a deal to prevent the automatic hike,” National Journal writes. “Major immigration legislation took up most of the Senate's bandwidth this week, and a vote on student loans won't come until July 10—well after Monday, when interest rates on new subsidized Stafford student loans rise from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.”
National Journal: “About 90 members from both chambers collected a government pension atop their taxpayer-financed $174,000 salary in 2012, National Journal found in an examination of recent financial records. Including a dozen newly elected freshmen who reported government pensions last year, the number now stands above 100. That’s nearly one-fifth of Congress.”