Election Politics Stall Immigration Reform

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The impending election appears to be forcing the debate over immigration reform to the back burner. Congressman Chris Cannon says he's impatient with the delay, but has realized that pushing the issue before November is pointless:

"I think it ought to happen now or last week, but somebody's made a calculation that it shouldn't happen until . . . later," says Cannon.

In the Spring, the House and Senate adopted very different immigration bills that require negotiation by a conference committee. Cannon says that committee is unlikely to be formed until Congress reconvenes after the general election. In the meantime, the House recently approved - for the second time - 700 miles of new fence along the border.

Cannon says he's also working on several other small enforcement-related measures he hopes to get through the House in the absence of progress on the larger immigration bill.

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