Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) says he doesn’t think Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) latest immigration comments indicate a comprehensive bill could pass this year.
“I don’t think there will be a single bill as the Speaker has mentioned. But a step-by-step approach. There have been those singular bills introduced,” Schock said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday.
The Republican congressman recently revealed he supports a path to citizenship for people living in the United States illegally.
{mosads}Schock said the 2014 primary season has made the prospects of immigration reform and other issues difficult.
Asked to comment on Boehner’s remarks, which surfaced last week, Schock said they exemplified the Speaker “in his raw form.”
“He is someone who’s very real. He is someone who’s very direct, and not just publicly, but behind closed doors to the rest of his conference,” said Schock, who added the GOP believes the current immigration system is a “broken government program.”
At a luncheon in his home district Thursday, Boehner mocked the rest of his GOP caucus for being too scared to take on immigration reform.
“Here’s the attitude. ‘Ohhhh. Don’t make me do this. Ohhhh. This is too hard,’ ” Boehner said a lunch hosted by a Rotary Club.
Boehner said earlier this year Republicans can’t move forward on the issue, until they can trust President Obama.
The Speaker has previously suggested a piecemeal approach is the more practical way for Congress to reform the current system.