Dem knocks Ryan as ‘do-nothing’ Speaker on immigration

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) is criticizing Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for saying he won’t take up immigration reform before the presidential election.

“It is sad that he had to promise members of his conference — in writing — to not address a national issue on behalf of the American people,” he said of Ryan Wednesday on the House floor.

{mosads}“He had to swear that he would not allow a vote on immigration reform as long as President Obama is President Obama,” Gutiérrez continued. “So the Congress that did nothing on immigration reform for the last two years will do nothing for the reminder of president’s term.

“It is really stunning. You must promise to do nothing in order to be Speaker of the do-nothing House,” he added.

Ryan vowed on Sunday that he would not tackle immigration reform during Obama’s final 14 months in office.

“The president has proven himself untrustworthy on this issue, because he tried to unilaterally rewrite the law itself,” he said, referencing Obama’s executive action on immigration policies.

“Presidents don’t write laws — Congress does,” Ryan said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I think if we reach consensus on something like border enforcement, interior security, that’s one thing. But I do not believe we should advance comprehensive immigration legislation with a president who’s proven himself untrustworthy on this issue.”

Gutiérrez also recited a mock leadership pledge he said Republicans should adopt to highlight their inaction on immigration.

“I swear that I will not let anything happen on my watch. That I will faithfully uphold and defend the principles of the do-nothing Congress, and pledge allegiance to the do-nothingness for which it stands,” he said.

“That I will ignore all cries for help, no matter how loud, from the American people,” he continued. “That I will not let public policy get in the way of party politics. And that party united is more important than the United States of America, so help me Tea Party.”

Gutiérrez predicted that Ryan’s promise would cost Republicans potential voters.

“This is a telling moment for the Republican Party and it is not confined to immigration,” he said. “They want the minority to rule and they want the tail to wag the dog.

“Maybe House Republicans think they are standing on principle, but the majority of the country has been fighting against exclusion, second class treatment and bigotry for decades.”