House Democrats Tie Drug War Proposals to Immigration Bill

Version of Senate bill passed in June

An immigration bill introduced by Democrats in the House of Representatives on Wednesday would refocus Congress' border security efforts on stopping unauthorized crossers and reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.

The measure is a version of the bill that passed in the Senate this June. But they've replaced the expensive "border surge" of agents and dollars in the Senate legislation with a more frugal, stripped-down border measure drafted by Republican Rep. Mike McCaul (Texas).

Despite whatever attention it might receive today, the legislation is largely considered dead-on-arrival in the House. The bill has no Republican co-sponsors and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said he won't allow it to come to the floor without majority support from Republicans.

Basically, it's a way for Democrats to revitalize a fading issue and energize their base.