Item: Politico: Labrador could be GOP’s ‘credible face for immigration reform’/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise

More Info: Politico yesterday took a look at Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador as a possible “credible face for broader immigration reform” for the GOP. Reporter Marin Cogan writes, “Wading into the tricky politics of immigration reform would seem to be a dead end for any Republican these days — let alone a conservative freshman from Idaho. But Rep. Raul Labrador, a Puerto Rican-born former immigration lawyer and overnight tea party darling, is doing just that.

Question: Would you be proud/dismayed if Congressman Labrador becomes the credible GOP face for immigration reform in this country?

Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats voted Saturday morning to block legislation that would grant legal residency to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16. The DREAM Act, which would give legal status to illegal immigrants who came to the country at a young age, lived here for at least five years, graduated from high school and attended college or served in the military, fell five votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP-led filibuster — 55 to 41/Alexander Bolton, The Hill. More here.

Question: Do you agree/disagree with U.S. Senate GOP action to block the DREAM Act?

Question: What do you think of Republican Raul Labrador’s position on immigration reform?

Marc Stewart, spokesman of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe: “Every tribe in Idaho would strongly oppose any such legislation.”

A northern Idaho lawmaker says he’ll push Arizona-style immigration reform if voters return him to the state Legislature. Sen. Mike Jorgenson, a Hayden Lake Republican, still must survive his May 25 GOP primary, where he faces Steve Vick. There’s no Democratic foe for November’s general election. Jorgenson, who has tried unsuccessfully to enact a law to punish Idaho employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens, vowed to push “an exact duplicate of the Arizona law” in the 2011 Legislature. Arizona’s new law requires police to ask for citizenship documents from those suspected of committing a crime, if officers had reasonable cause to believe the suspect was an illegal alien. Jorgenson says following suit in Idaho would “force Congress to get off their kiesters.” At least nine states are considering Arizona-style laws/Associated Press.

Question: Will Jorgenson’s push for Arizona-style immigration reform help him in his GOPrimary fight against Steve Vick? Or hurt him?

Joe Heller/Hellertoons