CAMBRIDGE, Md.—House Republican leaders released a long-awaited set of principles Thursday to guide the chamber’s debate on immigration, a balancing effort aimed at drawing a majority of Republicans without alienating Democrats who also would be needed to pass a bill.
The move comes seven months after the Senate passed a broad-based immigration bill, which many saw as dead amid opposition from House conservatives. But House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) appears determined to at least test whether there is sufficient support to move forward on a bill.
“It’s time to deal with it,” Mr. Boehner said, adding that the House would take its own approach. “It’s one thing to pass a law. It’s another to have the confidence of the American people behind the law as you pass it.”
As expected, the GOP outline called for a path to citizenship for young people brought to the U.S. as children and granting a form of legal status allowing many other immigrants now in the U.S. illegally to stay here. It also would make changes to the visa system for high-tech and agriculture workers, improve border security and mandate the use of a biometric system—using markers such as fingerprints—for visitors exiting as well as entering the U.S.
Many Republican leaders believe the party must back some kind of immigration overhaul to draw Hispanic voters, even as many GOP lawmakers are wary of any measure that appears to reward people who broke the law.
Lawmakers gathered at a private House GOP retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore reacted positively. “Point by point it was very well received,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R., Fla.) said of the draft.
Some conservative lawmakers also said they could accept a legal status for illegal immigrants already here. “I am not a ’round ‘em up and ship ‘em out” supporter, said Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R., Ind.), referring to proposals to deport illegal immigrants. “I don’t want to pay for it; I think it’s inhumane and not compassionate.”
At the same time, some at the retreat questioned the merits of turning their focus away from the health law and the economy, Mr. Diaz-Balart said. Others were wary of entrusting the president to enforce any law fairly.
Mindful of the distrust, the document emphasized that none of the provisions would take effect until after enforcement is in place. To gain legal status, adults would have to admit guilt in breaking U.S. law, pass background checks, pay fines and support themselves without public assistance, among other requirements. It also makes clear there will be “no special path to citizenship,” but doesn’t preclude immigrants accessing existing paths, an idea the GOP is working to put into legislation.
Also Thursday, House GOP leaders said they soon would take the politically risky move of passing their own health-care plan and exposing it to scrutiny in an election year, a shift in strategy after months of focusing attention on President Barack Obama’s troubled health-care law. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) pledged that the chamber would vote this year on a GOP alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats will be sure to make an issue if the GOP plan offers insurance coverage to fewer Americans or takes away popular elements of the 2010 law. A GOP health proposal would divide the party’s base and become “a major issue,” in the elections, said Rep. Steve Israel (D., N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Republicans have yet to settle on the contents of their health-care plan. In a closed-door presentation Thursday, Mr. Cantor indicated one possibility would be to pull common elements from several GOP proposals. Those could include allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines, a boost for health-savings accounts, high-risk pools to cover those with existing conditions and an overhaul of medical-liability laws, according to a senior House GOP aide.
“There are a lot of really good things that we stand for,” said Rep. Steve Scalise (R., La.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee.
Earlier this week, three GOP senators unveiled a proposal that would offer tax credits to lower-income Americans to help them buy coverage, funded by restrictions on tax breaks workers get on their employee benefits.
Doug Holtz-Eakin, a Republican economist, played down the political risks of pursuing a GOP health bill. “That comes with the territory,” he said. “It’s appropriate to put forward a positive alternative versus just being against something.”
Write to Kristina Peterson at kristina.peterson@wsj.com and Laura Meckler at laura.meckler@wsj.com
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