Conservative leaders push for 2013 immigration reform

President Barack Obama is concerned that the urgency for immigration reform is diminishing, even as conservative leaders pressure lawmakers to act.

"There's already a broad coalition across America that's behind this effort, from business leaders to faith leaders to law enforcement," Obama said after the government shutdown ended earlier this month.

Republicans, stung by low support from Hispanic and Asian voters a year ago, are now being targeted by conservative groups. This week, more than 600 officials and activists came to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans and make the conservative case for immigration reform.

From Politico:

"Failure to come up now with a solution to immigration reform is a sign of weakness, not of strength," said Al Cardenas, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, during a kick-off event Tuesday morning at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday's "fly-in" came as a second House Republican backed a Democratic-led comprehensive bill that mostly resembles the sweeping legislation that passed the Senate in June. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida said in a statement that she will support any approach that "will help us move the negotiations forward."

"Other members may soon produce a bipartisan product that may also deserve support," she said. "I'm cautiously optimistic that we can pass meaningful immigration reform."

On The Daily Circuit, we discuss where the interests of the business community and anti-tax leaders fit with the interests of longtime immigration reform advocates. What kind of bill could ultimately get enough votes to pass?

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