House leadership just announced a “special conference” on immigration for July 10, offering members a closed-door session to talk about the GOP’s strategy on an issue that is deeply dividing the party.
The move comes after Steve King had gathered the necessary signatures to force such a session and discussed his strategy on the issue with National Review Online. There has been increasing scrutiny on whether Speaker John Boehner would be willing to pass an immigration bill in violation of the so-called “Hastert rule,” which requires the support of the “majority of the majority.”
Since successfully coming to agreement on a short-term debt-ceiling strategy at the January House Republican retreat in Williamsburg, Va., House leaders have increasingly sought to give rank-and-file members ample opportunity to provide input in such settings.
Regarding whether King had forced the session, a leadership aide said the special conference had been in the works for “several weeks.”