Republicans Temper Outrage over Obama's Immigration Initiative - Seek Pragmatic Response while Biding Time

Washington Post: "GOP readies Obama immigration response: No shutdown, but a nod to conservatives"
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-readies-obama-immigration-response-no-shutdown-but-a-nod-to-conservatives/2014/12/02/46e7c2ee-7a5b-11e4-b821-503cc7efed9e_story.html

President Obama's recent immigration initiative has stoked significant Republican outrage. Introduced as an executive order, the initiative includes measures that provide a potential route to citizenship for individuals who have been living within the United States illegally for an extended period. In his speech, Obama asserted that his use of an executive order to introduce immigration reform was legitimate given the extensive historical precedent. He noted in particular how past presidents have introduced policies relating to immigration reform in a similar manner. Republican Congressional Leaders were extremely vocal about their disapproval of the policy and the manner in which it was introduced. Shortly after Obama's unveiling of the initiative, Senate Minority Leader John Boehner (R) openly condemned the policy as damaging to the state and condemned Obama for 'blatantly circumventing the democratic process'.

While the GOP is notably heated over the policy, many Republican leaders have noted that they do not intend to force another shutdown of the government. Despite the positions of Republican leaders on the proposed policy, it appears as though Congressional leaders broadly agree that an unnecessary shutdown would be extremely damaging to the state and largely counterproductive. Instead of taking a hard line position against Obama's policy on immigration reform, Republicans seem to be adopting a more pragmatic approach, seeking to publicly scold President Obama and undercut the initiative through budgetary discretion. Congressman Ted Yoho (R) is sponsoring legislation that would effectively bar the President from making changes to immigration policy. While the measure is not expected to pass, Republican leaders believe it is important step in demonstrating their open disapproval and condemnation of the President's actions.

The Republican Party appears to be tempering down its response to Obama's immigration reform policy quite a bit. Perhaps they are afraid of being stuck with the blame for another shutdown, choosing instead to conserve their goodwill with the public. This appears to be the case as Republicans seek to shorten the funding renewal periods for immigration related agencies, gathering leverage for renegotiation at a later point. As Republicans are due to assume power in the Senate and with the President advancing further into his second term, the GOP is biding its time until it has sufficient political clout to take a strong position against Obama's policy on immigration reform.