Obama: 'Absolutely certain' Senate immigration bill would pass House, GOP politics is problem

August 9, 2013 at 10:34PM
President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.
President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 9, 2013. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he is "absolutely certain" that the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill would pass the House if majority Republicans brought it up for a vote. But Republicans say they'll bring up a series of narrow bills instead.

Speaking Friday at the White House, Obama said he would like to see the House act on the Senate bill in September, as soon as they return from summer recess. He urged the House to put forward a bill that could pass, even if does not match the Senate bill. The versions could be reconciled later. Obama says no bill would solve the nation's immigration problem 100 percent.

The Senate-passed bill would include billions for border security and a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants in the country illegally.

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