Durbin: House inaction on immigration ‘heartbreaking’

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the eight authors of the Senate immigration bill, blasted the House for inaction a year after its passage.

“What has happened to comprehensive immigration reform since we sent it one year ago in the House of Representatives?” Durbin said on the Senate floor Thursday. “Nothing. Nothing.”

{mosads}”What a heartbreaking situation. What an abdication of responsibility,” Durbin said.

Durbin negotiated the bill along with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Michael Bennet (Colo.) and Bob Menendez (N.J.), as well as Republican Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and John McCain (Ariz.).  

Durbin expressed disappointment that the House is not even entertaining immigration bills to bring to a vote.

“Have we reached the point where a future vote can’t even be discussed in the House of Representatives?” Durbin said. “Have we reached the point where we can’t even bring the matter to the floor for a vote?”

Durbin predicted that the Senate immigration bill would pass the House if House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) brought it to the floor.

“Sure, there will be critics of the speaker,” Durbin said. “But that’s what leadership calls for, for the Speaker to have the courage to get it done.”