Roll Call — Washington

Obama Wants Immigration Reform Done This Year

President Barack Obama on Thursday made his biggest push yet to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year. — During a bipartisan, bicameral meeting at the White House with nearly three dozen lawmakers, Obama told immigration stakeholders that he wants to wrap up the issue…

Democrats said Obama’s message that comprehensive immigration reform should happen sooner than later was loud and clear.

“Pushing this off until next year makes it more difficult” politically, due to mid-term elections in November, said Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), who attended the meeting. “The president would like to see it done before the end of the year. … He is pretty cognizant in terms of next year and the issues before us.”

“We have to get this done this year or it’s not going to happen in the president’s first term,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who was also at the meeting. “We’ve all banged the table enough. We’ve all shouted at each other on television enough. Now it’s time to get down to work. I think the time politically is ripe.”

HERE