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Rubio Spikes Comprehensive Immigration Reform Effort

WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) – Senator Marco Rubio was for immigration reform before he was against it. Sunday, Senator Rubio submarined the bill he helped author on immigration reform by saying a comprehensive overhaul is not possible.

Rubio helped construct the Senate immigration bill that passed the upper chamber of Congress with bipartisan support this year. However, the bill has been ignored by the GOP-led House of Representatives.

Senator Rubio said he now opposes a bicameral conference committee which would have resolved the differences between House bills and the Senate bill, according to talkingpointsmemo.com.

Moving to a conference committee, which is the normal legislative process, has become problematic due to Republicans in the House of Representatives. A similar plan to move to conference on a budget has been held up by conservatives in the House and Senate.

Rubio's office now says he preferred a piecemeal approach all along as opposed to the comprehensive bill put forward earlier this year, according to tpm.com

For Rubio, the move is a political winner. Rubio was castigated by conservatives earlier this year for working with Democrats on the comprehensive immigration bill and championing the bill throughout much of the summer.

By opposing conference and any comprehensive reform, Rubio can now slowly start to regain the support of the conservative base he would need if he has higher political ambitions in 2016.

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