Centrist GOP Leaders in House and Senate Committed to
Finding Common Ground on Immigration

(Washington, D.C.) – Leaders of the Republican Main Street Partnership have offered to help broker a deal on immigration reform between the U.S. House and Senate. Main Street members Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Representative Mike Castle (R-DE) met last weekend to begin discussions on a compromise between the Senate and House passed legislation. "The Republican Main Street Partnership and its members are committed to final passage of much needed immigration reform legislation," said Sarah Chamberlain, Executive Director.

The Senate passed immigration reform legislation last night that differs significantly from the legislation passed by the House last December. "It is critical that we find common ground between the House and Senate on immigration reform," continued Chamberlain.

"Finding a workable compromise on the Senate and House immigration reform bills will be a difficult task, but as we all know, extremely necessary. There are a multitude of problems that need to be addressed such as border security, guest worker programs, and the status of current illegal immigrants, but as negotiations move forward, I hope we can work from a productive middle ground," Castle said.

"Far too many folks at both ends of the ideological extremes are using the immigration issue as just another way to score cheap political points in an election year," said Chamberlain. "The American people want more than rhetoric - they want results. Centrist Republicans in both chambers are committed to finding a pragmatic, common sense solution to the complex immigration issue."

"At a time when poll after poll shows growing dissatisfaction with politics as usual in Washington, this is a historic opportunity for the Congress, and particularly for our Republican majority, to deliver on an issue of critical importance to average Americans," concluded Chamberlain.