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House Speaker John Boehner says he was just teasing when he said his Republican colleagues whined that immigration reform is 'too hard.' Boehner says that 'you tease the ones you love, right?'

House Speaker John Boehner told Republican lawmakers Tuesday he was just teasing them when he lampooned their reluctance to act on immigration legislation, insisting that he blames President Barack Obama for inaction on the issue, not the GOP.

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"You tease the ones you love, right? But some people misunderstood what I had to say," Boehner told reporters after a closed-door meeting with the House GOP where he offered the explanation. "I can rib people just a little too much sometimes. This wouldn't be the first time."

The comments in question happened at a Rotary Club lunch in Ohio last week when Boehner said Republican House members don't want to take on immigration because it's too difficult.

What Boehner said, according to Cincinnati.com was:

"Here's the attitude. Ohhhh. Don't make me do this. Ohhhh. This is too hard," Boehner whined before a luncheon crowd at Brown's Run County Club in Madison Township.

"We get elected to make choices. We get elected to solve problems and it's remarkable to me how many of my colleagues just don't want to ... They'll take the path of least resistance."

Boehner said he's been working for 16 or 17 months trying to push Congress to deal with immigration reform.

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Immigration reform 'too hard' for Republicans? Boehner says he was just teasing

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More than a dozen area pastors will gather in Washington D.C., today, as part of a national effort to encourage Congress to pass immigration reform before the end of the year.

Carl Ruby, executive director of WelcomeSpringfield.org, painted the issue as a moral obligation and said the countrys current laws are harmful to local families.

The local group will gather with hundreds of other pastors nationally in an event called Pastors for Reform, sponsored by the Evangelical Immigration Table. However, opponents argued action is unlikely this year because many Republican voters oppose making such sweeping reforms and because of skepticism that the laws would be enforced.

The issue was highlighted recently when Republican House Speaker John Boehner, whose district includes Springfield, drew criticism for comments he made at a Middletown Rotary Club meeting earlier this month. Boehner imitated his fellow House Republicans whining, and said his colleagues dont have the appetite to deal with the issue because its too difficult.

Members of the Springfield group plan to meet today with Boehner, along with Congressmen Mike Turner, and U.S. Representatives Brad Wenstrup, Steve Chabot and Pat Tiberi.

The pastors will push for reforms they argue will improve national security, but also keep families intact and eventually provide a way for immigrants to earn citizenship after they have paid fines and waited behind others who are currently trying to enter the country legally. Rubys group, WelcomeSpringfield.org, encourages immigrant workers to move to the area and start businesses to help revitalize the regions economy.

We believe that justice for people who are waiting for immigration reform has taken too long, Ruby said.

While some reform is needed, the comprehensive proposal that was passed several months ago in the U.S. Senate will likely remain stalled in the U.S. House, said Jon Feere, legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. The non-profit agency advocates for tighter immigration controls.

Despite Boehners comments, voter opposition to the Senate proposals is the reason reforms have seen little support in the U.S. House, Feere said. He argued previous reforms have led to increased immigration, but little enforcement.

Thats why I think its very unlikely that well see any type of legislation prior to the mid-terms, Feere said. After the mid-terms its a whole different ballgame, but I think that most members of Congress who are up for reelection are not interested in having this debate any time soon.

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Pastors to advocate for immigration reform

U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia (FL-26) along with U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and others call on House Republicans during a press conference to allow a vote on H.R. 15, as well as discussing what immigration reform would mean for residents in South F

Original post | 12:19 p.m.

Updated | 2:36 p.m., 3:21 p.m. and 3:33 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, pushed Monday for two key issues that could help decide how enthusiastic Hispanic voters are this year and which party they end up favoring.

At a news conference at Hispanic Unity of Florida in Hollywood Wasserman Schultz said:

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, must put immigration reform legislation on the floor of the House for a vote. She said she was delivering a simple message to Boehner. Allow the House to vote on comprehensive immigration reform without delay.

Wasserman Schultz said the immigration reform legislation is common sense and ready to go. It would reduce the deficit, strengthen the nations borders, and improve the economy and improve the lives of many people living in the U.S. She called it the moral thing to do for millions of our brothers and sisters living in the shadows.

Wasserman Schultz was joined at the event by U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Miami. He said theres no area in the United States that would benefit more from comprehensive immigration reform than South Florida.

The Florida Senate must pass a measure granting in-state tuition for state college and university students who were brought to the U.S. years ago. Wasserman Schultz ridiculed Republican Gov. Rick Scotts claim that he supports the legislation. Hes exercised exactly zero leadership, she said. This is squarely in the Republicans court and I hope they dont let the legislative session expire on Friday without taking it up and sending it to the governor.

Josie Bacallao, president and CEO of Hispanic Unity, said its an important issue for many people in South Florida.

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Wasserman Schultz demands action on immigration reform

Boehner Mocks GOP Colleagues on Immigration Reform
House Speaker John Boehner, who has said he #39;s "hell-bent" on passing immigration reform this year, mocked his GOP colleagues in an appearance in his home sta...

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Boehner Mocks GOP Colleagues on Immigration Reform - Video