Region's lawmakers split on party lines over Obama plan

WASHINGTON - Philadelphia-area Republicans in Congress blasted President Obama for "hubris" and exceeding his authority Thursday, saying his executive actions on immigration will undermine hope of passing a bipartisan law to repair the nation's immigration system.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) called the president's Thursday night announcement his "latest overreach."

"America's immigration system is badly broken and cries out for reform," Toomey said in a news release. But he said Obama's "legally unauthorized actions" aren't the answer "and could encourage even more illegal immigration."

Democrats praised the president for making changes where he could, pointing out that House Republicans have blocked votes on immigration reform - before Obama acted - and have not offered alternatives.

"We simply couldn't afford to wait any longer for Republicans to decide to act on the civil-rights issue of our time," said Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), the Senate's most senior Hispanic member.

A Menendez statement called Obama's plan "a historic step forward," about "accountability, not amnesty, about deporting felons, not families."

A longtime crusader for immigration reform, Menendez is a cosponsor of a bipartisan plan that passed the Senate in June 2013 but has not come up for a vote in the GOP-controlled House.

He is to join Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) at an immigration event Friday in Las Vegas.

Obama's plan will shield from deportation five million undocumented immigrants by expanding protections for those brought here as children, and for parents who have been here more than five years, who have no criminal records, and whose children are legal residents. Obama will direct immigration authorities to focus enforcement on those with criminal backgrounds.

The reactions locally echoed those reverberating nationally.

Before the speech, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said in a video that Obama was acting like an emperor. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who will become majority leader in January, warned that the GOP will respond.

"Make no mistake. When the newly elected representatives of the people take their seats, they will act," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Democrats were watching to see if Republicans' reactions might undercut GOP attempts to appeal to Hispanic voters.

Several Republicans from the Philadelphia region said they wanted to see changes to the immigration system, but in news releases ripped Obama for his approach.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) said Obama's "hubris is alarming."

"The president's abuse of executive power" will let five million people "skip the line" ahead of law-abiding families, said Gerlach, of Chester County. "That's wrong."

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R., N.J.), whose South Jersey district has one of the largest concentrations of Hispanic residents in the region, said he was disappointed that the House has not considered an immigration reform bill.

But he said Obama's plan "will further damage the prospects of a bipartisan, comprehensive solution."

"Our immigration system is broken and needs reform so that we can truly be a nation of immigrants and laws," said U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R., Pa.) of Delaware County. "But by willfully ignoring the laws on the books, the president is not moving us closer to a solution. He's compounding the problem."

From Bucks County, U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) said he opposed "across-the-board or blanket amnesty. Any immigration reform must begin with securing the border."

But U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.) of Philadelphia said Obama's action would take "great strides towards fixing our nation's broken immigration system."

Fattah added, "The refusal to allow a House vote on this issue is unacceptable."

Sen. Cory A. Booker (D., N.J.) called Obama's effort "an important first step" but called for Congress to pass an immigration bill.

"In a time of scarce resources, the president's actions will ensure taxpayer dollars are spent where they can be most effective, including on enhancements to border security," said Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.).