ABC NEWS
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The House bipartisan “Gang of Eight” has reached an agreement in principle on immigration overhaul, including major points such as a pathway to citizenship, border security, health care and guest workers, a member of the group told ABC News tonight.
The lower chamber now expects to work out details next week before taking the Memorial Day break and introducing the bill June 4.
Over hoagie sandwiches, a two-hour meeting of a bipartisan group of congressmen nearly fell apart today over who would pay for immigrant health care, the House “Gang” member said.
Official portrait of Congressman . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, was the last holdout who had to call into the meeting from Idaho where his daughter had a recital, the member said.
Labrador, described as the most influential Republican in the House “Gang of Eight” because he represents Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s interests, finally agreed when language proposed by Democrats ensured that taxpayer money would not pay for immigrant health care.
Although not a member of the “Gang of Eight,” Wisconsin congressman and former vice presidential contender Paul Ryan was instrumental in bringing the Republicans along in the agreement.
The House bipartisan group that seemed to have stalled earlier today announced it is finally moving forward on its own version of immigration overhaul.
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