House Republicans Working on Passing Immigration Reform This Year

GOP planning to ignore Senate bill

SAN ANTONIO — The same House Republicans who punted on immigration last year are now privately crafting an intricate plan to try to pass it in 2014.

Most people close to the planning expect votes on four bills by the end of the summer, including one that would give undocumented workers legal status.

And though none of the bills is likely to offer a path to full citizenship, the fact Republicans are preparing to take on immigration at all is a sign the party is coming to grips with a political reality: if they want to win elections in the long run, they'll have to face the issue.