To: The United States House of Representatives
Ask Kyrsten Sinema to kick-start Immigration Reform in the House
Comprehensive immigration reform is dying a slow death in Congress because House Speaker Boehner—who has the power to demand an up-or-down vote on the reform bill—refuses to get out of the way.
But there is a simple way that Democrats can bypass Boehner and save immigration reform. They can introduce the Senate bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support, then use a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote in the House of Representatives.
A discharge petition is the most viable option to pass comprehensive immigration reform this fall. It only takes 218 votes to file a discharge petition—that's every Democrat in Congress and 17 Republicans. Support for the discharge petition is growing in the media and among members of Congress.
Kyrsten Sinema supports the Senate Bill -- she just needs to know that her constituents will cheer her on if she initiates this gutsy action. Will you sign on?
But there is a simple way that Democrats can bypass Boehner and save immigration reform. They can introduce the Senate bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support, then use a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote in the House of Representatives.
A discharge petition is the most viable option to pass comprehensive immigration reform this fall. It only takes 218 votes to file a discharge petition—that's every Democrat in Congress and 17 Republicans. Support for the discharge petition is growing in the media and among members of Congress.
Kyrsten Sinema supports the Senate Bill -- she just needs to know that her constituents will cheer her on if she initiates this gutsy action. Will you sign on?
Why is this important?
I work with undocumented immigrants every week in a free ESL class in Phoenix -- many of them have been in the US since they were children. These are hard-working people who love this country and contribute as much as any solid citizen. They need a champion. The Senate Bill isn't perfect, but it would accomplish the basic structures needed to bring about justice for these immigrants. It just needs a vote in the House of Representatives to make it into law.