http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/?hp=Romney: GOP Senate to pass immigration
By JONATHAN TOPAZ |
11/2/14 9:33 AM EST
Mitt Romney on Sunday predicted that a Republican Senate would break through congressional gridlock and pass legislation on immigration reform and trade.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee warned that President Barack Obama after the midterms would move towards "amnesty" on immigration reform, a reference to the White House's decision to delay executive action on immigration until after the November elections. But Romney said that a Republican Congress will pass a more conservative immigration bill focused on border security that the president will sign.
“You’re going to see a provision, first of all, to secure the border," Romney said. "Second of all, to deal with those who come here illegally. And third, to make sure our immigration policies are more open and transparent … That’s going to happen. You’re going to see a bill actually reach the desk of the president if we finally have someone besides Harry Reid sitting in the Senate. So, we’re going to get it done.”
Romney, who said he anticipates major gains for Republicans but declined to predict a GOP Senate takeover, said Democrats were chiefly responsible for the legislative "blockade" in Washington. A Republican Senate, he said, would put pressure on the White House to pass trade promotion authority, which the White House and congressional Republicans largely support but rank-and-file Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, largely oppose.
Romney also said that recent Democratic comments on women's issues and race — including Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu's comments that Obama's unpopularity in her state is partly due to race — show a "desperate" Democratic Party. Those arguments, he said, are getting "weaker and weaker."
On whether he will run for president in 2016, Romney stuck to a familiar line: “I’m not running. I’m not planning on running," he said with a smile.
