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Obama says Speaker Boehner is holding back immigration bill
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Sep 18, 2013
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Obama says Speaker Boehner is holding back immigration bill
The issues topping the agenda in Washington right now include Syria, the federal budget, and raising the debt ceiling. But what about immigration reform?
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses members of the Business Roundtable September 18, 2013 at the Business Roundtable Headquarters in Washington, DC. Obama spoke on various topics including the national debt ceiling and immigration reform, and then answered questions from the members after his address.
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses members of the Business Roundtable September 18, 2013 at the Business Roundtable Headquarters in Washington, DC. Obama spoke on various topics including the national debt ceiling and immigration reform, and then answered questions from the members after his address.
(
Alex Wong/Getty Images
)

The issues topping the agenda in Washington right now include Syria, the federal budget, and raising the debt ceiling. But what about immigration reform?

The issues  topping the agenda in Washington right now include Syria, the federal budget, and raising the debt ceiling. But what about immigration reform?

That's the question President Obama was asked yesterday in an interview with Telemundo. He said the Senate had passed a bi-partisan bill, he was ready to sign it, and the American people supported it. He pointed a finger at the Speaker of the House.



“The only thing that's holding it back right now is John Boehner calling it into the floor because we've got a majority of members of Congress, Democrats and some Republicans, in the House of Representatives, who would vote for it right now if it hit. So this is really a question that should be directed to Mr. John Boehner. What's stopping him from going ahead and calling that bill?”

Meanwhile, advocacy groups are meeting with members of congress and other power brokers this week hoping to bring the immigration debate back into the spotlight.

We're joined now by Rachel Van Dongen, congressional editor for Politico.