WASHINGTON — Despite broad bipartisan support for a crackdown on illegal immigration, legislation before Congress to do just that has become so ensnarled in election-year politics that its prospects for passage are in doubt.
Imperiling the measure is a risky GOP strategy partly aimed at denying President Clinton a signing ceremony in the weeks preceding the Nov. 5 election, lawmakers in both parties said.
Today, House and Senate lawmakers are to decide whether to include in final immigration legislation a controversial provision from the House version of the bill that would allow states to impose tuition on illegal immigrant students in public schools.
That would set up a confrontation with Senate Democrats and the White House that is unlikely to be resolved before Congress adjourns in a few weeks.
"This strategy is designed to pin down the president," said Michelle Davis, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas). "He has done an excellent job of taking credit for things we pass. Not this time."
Indeed, officials with Republican Bob Dole's presidential campaign--frustrated by Clinton's embrace of many traditional GOP themes--are among those pushing that strategy for the immigration bill.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a member of the congressional conference committee meeting on the bill today, called that strategy "extraordinarily flawed public policy." She said that the people of California, who have pressed the immigration issue, "will see right through it."
The House passed its immigration bill in March, 333-87. The Senate followed suit two months later, 97 to 3. With such lopsided votes, approval of new efforts to thwart illegal immigration once looked to many like a sure thing.
That was before Republicans lined up behind the tuition plan.
Toned down in recent weeks to gain support, the measure would enable states to start charging tuition for illegal immigrants enrolled in elementary school who want to proceed beyond the sixth grade. But illegal immigrant students in seventh grade or beyond could finish high school under the compromise.
Initially, the amendment authored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) would have allowed states to ban illegal immigrant children from public schools.
Republican leaders, led by Dole and House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), are trying to get the public-schooling tuition plan in the immigration bill's final version.
