They already have taken steps to stigmatize the Senate bill within GOP ranks. Although several Senate Republicans, including John McCain of Arizona and Mel Martinez of Florida, played major roles in crafting the legislation, House Republicans are calling it the "Reid-Kennedy bill," referring to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and liberal icon Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Details on the logistics and schedule for the public hearings are still being worked out, but they probably will not follow the traditional format of sessions on Capitol Hill, where both sides of an issue are aired with at least a pretense of balance.
"These hearings are going to be an effort to gather input on the troubling provisions" that are part of the Senate bill, said Kevin Madden, spokesman for House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). "House members have strong opinions about this bill. Gathering input will not only foster greater understanding, but move a public consensus toward the House bill."
This is not the first time the immigration debate has spun out of Bush's control. He played virtually no role when the House passed its border security bill in mid-December without proposals addressing the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.
In the spring, large demonstrations protested the get-tough House bill, which includes a provision that would criminalize illegal immigration.
Bush sought to guide the debate with his prime-time speech. The White House was buoyed when the Senate passed its broader bill in late May.
But a procedural glitch -- yet to be resolved -- prevented House and Senate negotiators from being named to begin efforts toward a compromise. Meanwhile, House Republicans continued to hear complaints from their constituents about illegal immigration, intensifying fears of political fallout if they are associated with the citizenship plan that critics say is amnesty for illegal immigrants.
"Our guys, the more time they have been at home, realize that the House position -- border security first -- is where we need to be," said Sean Spicer, spokesman for the House Republican Conference.
The GOP lawmakers became even more committed to highlighting "that the House is distinct from the Senate" in the immigration debate, he said.
Making that point was one reason Hastert decided to hold the hearings. He discussed the idea with other GOP leaders last week but held off announcing the plan because he did not want to distract from the chamber's much-publicized debate on the war in Iraq.
