House leaders to focus on narrow border security bill

The House probably will ignore President Bush's call Monday for comprehensive immigration reform, with GOP leaders planning to bring up a narrower border-security bill before adjourning for the year.

Advocates, however, are hoping the president's words will register in the Senate, which is more likely to take up a bill that includes a guestworker program, or push that issue in a potential House-Senate conference if the two bills are merged.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., announced Monday the Senate will take up border control legislation in February. Bush pressed for a comprehensive immigration bill that includes provisions aimed at beefing up the nation's borders as well as a guestworker program that business leaders have sought. But the Bush announcement, which tracked with previous positions the president has taken on the issue, did not appear to change the course House leaders have set.

Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, who toured the U.S.-Mexico border with Bush today, acknowledged that the House is unlikely to go along with the president's plan. But Conaway, who supports a broader immigration bill, said the number of House Republicans who favor the president's plan is quiet but growing.

"There are some loud voices in our conference" who oppose a guestworker plan, he said Tuesday. "It's not a done deal, but it may be that we do have to wait for a conference with the Senate."

House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., has been saying for weeks that he is close to unveiling his immigration and border-security bill, and House leaders have committed to passing a border bill before breaking for the year.

Since Bush unveiled his immigration principles two years ago, advocates of overhauling immigration laws have hoped the president would expend political capital to push a policy through the divided Congress. But Bush's speech Monday did little to placate those critics who have said the president has not followed through -- and some questioned whether Republicans in Congress would be willing to go out on a limb for the president.

"Look at what happened on Social Security," one House aide said. "That didn't work out so well."

Others said the speech indicates the president is focusing on the issue. "The White House has made clear that it will be involved in a concrete, practical and detailed way in crafting broader immigration reform, including a guest worker program," said Manhattan Institute fellow Tamar Jacoby. "The speech didn't fill in all the details. Answers to important questions were left sketchy."

By pledging to take up immigration in February, Frist has elevated the issue as he shapes that chamber's agenda. Frist earlier this month said the Senate, which is scheduled to begin its second session Jan. 18, will take up asbestos legislation as its first major piece of legislation. Frist had expressed hope for a vote on an asbestos bill by the end of January.

Mark Wegner contributed to this report.