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Senate Leadership Show Support for Reform Before White House Immigration Meeting

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MSNBC

Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reiterated that he’s got the votes to move immigration reform forward, and soon.

Today MSNBC’s Mark Murray cites America’s Voice Executive Director, Frank Sharry, in “Immigration reformers press WH:”

In advance of President Obama’s meeting tomorrow to discuss immigration reform with congressional Democrats and Republicans, immigration advocates held a conference call today with reporters, urging the Obama administration to make immigration a priority — this year. […]

Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, said it was smart policy and smart politics to take up immigration reform. He noted that Obama was elected in no small part because independent voters thought he and the Democrats were best able to find solutions to challenging problems like immigration. He also said Republicans “will have a huge price to pay” if they are seen as blocking immigration reform and scapegoating immigrants and Latinos.

Murray continues, “Asked about Robert Gibbs’ recent comment that the “math” might be against immigration reform this year, Sharry replied, ‘When it comes to counting votes in the U.S. Congress, we tend to look to Harry Reid before Robert Gibbs.'”

Also big news today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the number three Democratic leader in the Senate, came out strong for reform at a meeting held by the Migration Policy Institute.

Roll Call’s Jessica Brady reports in “Schumer Says Immigration Reform Will Happen:”

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) maintained Wednesday that Congress will tackle comprehensive immigration reform this Congress, and perhaps even this year.