Kennedy move deals blow to immigration reform plan

Sen. Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) allies on immigration reform regard his departure from the Judiciary Committee as a withering blow to their cause and are searching for a new champion on the controversial issue.

Many are interpreting his decision to focus on healthcare as a setback to legislation that would put millions of illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship.

{mosads}Kennedy’s own health has some speculating that the liberal icon sees healthcare as his best chance to augment his legacy while he battles brain cancer.

“I think it’s more than possible that he’s gotten a little older and has health issues himself and that’s hit home,” said Gabriela Lemus, executive director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “He’s probably thinking about his legacy and this is the last big thing.”

Some see his decision to leave his post as chairman of the Judiciary Immigration subcommittee as a sign that Democrats will hold off on the topic in the 111th Congress.

“I’ve had this conversation with a couple people and I would say that Kennedy’s loss from the Judiciary Committee is disappointing,” said Randel Johnson, vice president of labor, immigration and employee benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was a major supporter of Kennedy’s legislation. “It will adversely affect immigration reform going forward. It indicates the chances of comprehensive reform happening over the next few years are slim.”

But an aide to Kennedy dismissed the notion that his boss would abandon immigration reform altogether, noting that Kennedy promised to remain involved.

When Kennedy announced that he would step down from Judiciary and give up his gavel as chairman of the Immigration subcommittee, he said: “I remain deeply committed to civil rights, equal opportunities and immigration reform, and I will always be involved in those important debates and discussions.”

His statement has given little consolation to his allies in the effort to pass sweeping legislation, a goal that critics deride as “amnesty” for illegal workers.

While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in previous interviews has said the Senate will take up immigration reform in the 111th Congress, some proponents doubt President-elect Obama and Democrats will make the issue a top priority during the first years of his administration.

Rahm Emanuel, who will serve as White House chief of staff, predicted last year that immigration reform would not happen in the first term of a Democratic presidency.

Emanuel, who has seen immigration as a dangerous issue for Democrats, repeatedly battled members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to block consideration of an immigration package in the House while he was a member of the House Democratic leadership.

During an interview with CNN shortly before Election Day, Obama left immigration off  his list of priorities.

Now the potential loss of a champion on the issue in the Senate clouds its prospects even more.

Those who have followed the heated immigration debate on Capitol Hill say it will be difficult for someone to step into Kennedy’s shoes and lead on such a complex and controversial issue.

“Politically and substantively, it’s a challenging issue, but it has to be resolved,” said Sonia Ramirez, a legislative representative at the AFL-CIO, which did not support the final version of immigration reform that Kennedy pushed in 2007. “I can’t believe they’ll allow this issue to go by the wayside but, certainly, Kennedy has demonstrated that it requires a lot of leadership to move forward.”

Others say that the enormity of the task and Kennedy’s fragile health forced him to choose between healthcare and immigration as a perhaps final addition to his legacy.

{mospagebreak}“My sense is that he’s certainly been in a compromised medical state and either of those issues is a massive, massive job,” said Marshall Fitz, director of advocacy at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Fitz said Kennedy’s departure from Judiciary would “really leave a hole” on the panel, but noted that Reid could appoint a strong advocate of reform to replace him.

{mosads}Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is next in line on the Immigration subcommittee. Immigration reform advocates describe Feinstein as a “fair” and “independent” legislator but not as passionate an advocate as Kennedy. She could also have her hands full if chosen as chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence next year.

Indeed, few lawmakers seem eager to play as prominent role as Kennedy — even logical successors such as Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), who is one of three Hispanic senators.

A Salazar aide said his boss will play the same role in the immigration debate as he has in the past.

The aide said Salazar is happy with his committee assignments and does not seem eager to join Judiciary.

An aide to Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the other Hispanic in the Democratic Conference, did not venture to say what his boss would do on immigration next year.

The loss of leadership has given opponents of comprehensive reform reason to crow.

“It makes it even less likely there’s going to be a big amnesty bill,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative think tank. “Kennedy for 40 years has been the engine driving immigration legislation in Congress.”

Nevertheless, some proponents of a creating a path to citizenship for undocumented workers hold out hope that legislation could move during Obama’s first term.

“I think it’s going to move in the first year,” said Fitz. “I think the better question is how Democrats can try to not try to move on immigration.”

Even so, Fitz acknowledged that immigration “probably doesn’t rise to [the level of] healthcare on the priority list.”