PRESTOPUNDIT

"There are a lot of ambitious plans, a lot of necessary reforms that need to take place [in Social Security, the tax code, etc.], but this rush toward amnesty-light should not be one of the priorities," said Rep. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, who .. said Mr. Bush's immigration proposal would hurt his broader legislative agenda. "It would just be sad for the president to tie his shoelaces together right out of the starting block." ..

Rep. John Hostettler of Indiana, chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Wisconsin and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, who controls which bills reach the floor, all oppose granting legal status to illegal immigrants in the United States. "And then you come to the rank-and-file guys," Mr. Hayworth said, "who, on nine out of 10 items agree with the administration, this is the 10th item. And now, if it goes to number one on the priority list, it is the item where there will be serious debate and discussion and ultimately rejection of this initiative."

One complication for the president is the Mexican government's decision last month to publish a comic-book-style pamphlet giving pointers for how to cross the U.S. border and live illegally and undetected in the United States. [English translation here].