Reid bleak about immigration reform

WASHINGTON -- Immigration reform is unlikely to pass Congress until a new president is elected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Friday.

Although President Bush worked with Reid and other immigration reform advocates last year, "his help didn't mean much," Reid said.

"We had 12 Republicans who supported us in comprehensive immigration reform. That's all," Reid said.

Reid described as "shortsighted" such Republican proposals as building a fence on the Mexican border. "So I don't think we'll get anything done this year," Reid said.

Reid made his comments at the National Press Club as he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., detailed the Democratic agenda before President Bush delivers the State of the Union speech Monday night.

White House spokesman Trey Bohn said immigration continues to be a "pressing issue and one that Congress did not have the will to fix."

"The president believes that we must work together to fix this urgent problem, and he will continue to highlight the issue," Bohn said.

America's reputation in the international community has been "greatly diminished, and with it, our ability to respond to the critical challenges that threaten our security," Reid said.

Pelosi focused on domestic issues, saying the economic stimulus package approved by the House this week will give more than 100 million U.S. families "recovery rebates."

"Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are more concerned with scoring political points than they are with delivering results," said Paul Lindsay, a regional press secretary for the Republican National Committee.

Instead of making speeches, Lindsay said, Reid and Pelosi should reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Service Act, which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor phone calls overseas by terrorists.

The act is set to expire Feb. 1. Reid said it is up to Bush and the Republicans to work with Democrats to pass a short-term extension while Congress works on a long-term one.

Reid introduced a bill Friday that would extend the act until six months after a new president is inaugurated in January 2009.

Reid and Pelosi were asked what they would do to stop the fighting between Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois in the presidential primaries.

"I'm going to stay out of it," Reid said.

"And (Reid is) a boxer!" Pelosi joked.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Tony Batt at tbatt@stephensmedia.com or (202) 783-1760.