It would be even better if the president’s words translated into some action. The conventional wisdom is that comprehensive immigration reform legislation, which collapsed in the Congress last summer, will not take flight until at least next year when the dust has settled after the November presidential and congressional elections.
Even the most distracted or disconnected legislator must know that many months more of inaction will only worsen an already bad situation, one that directly affects millions of people hoping to make a living in the U.S. economy.
President bush clearly feels that immigration, in all its facets, is an urgent matter. It should be urgent for the Congress too.
No less so in immigration than in any other legislative area it really is unacceptable that the House and Senate can’t see fit to move some legislation through in the coming months.
That an election induces the legislative equivalent of not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time simply won’t do. We the people of this more perfect union deserve better.