Republicans are voicing sharp criticisms of the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill as mark-up on that bill gets underway in the House Judiciary Committee — chief among them, Texas senator Ted Cruz.
He began, however, with a major — and uncharacteristic — concession. “The majority has the votes on this committee to vote down every minority amendment, or virtually every minority amendment if it so chooses,” Cruz said. ”I hope the majority does not take that approach.”
In his criticism of the legislation, however, Cruz did not pull his punches, blasting its ”toothless metrics” for border security, which he said would perpetuate the problem of illegal immigration. Cruz also argued for removing the pathway to citizenship, and for making illegal immigrants ineligible for means-tested government benefits.
Florida senator Marco Rubio this morning, perhaps the most high-profile member of the Gang of Eight, indicated that he welcomes the amendment process and views it as a means of strengthening the bill rather than a chance for opponents to gut it. “That’s the way the process is supposed to work,” he told CBS News.
Cruz maintained that he supports comprehensive immigration reform. ”I don’t want this bill to be voted down,” he told his colleagues. But he warned that if his amendments are not adopted, the Republican-controlled House will scuttle the legislation.
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