House Republican leaders will be back at the negotiating table Thursday in an effort to hammer out a compromise on immigration between moderates and conservatives amid a rebellion that's four votes away from forcing their hands.
Speaker Paul Ryan has temporarily fended off the advance of the discharge petition launched by moderate Republicans, thanks to the bloc of conservatives who want nothing to do with protections for illegal immigrants let alone an insurrection within their own party that could force a vote on the matter.
However, Minnesota Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen on Wednesday became the 204th signatory on the petition, meaning that just four more Republican signatures will force a vote on immigration in late June, assuming every Democrat signs on.
Discharge petition leader Rep. Carlos Curbelo is at the table with Freedom Caucus co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan to hammer out a compromise immigration bill that somehow doesn't provide a pathway to citizenship.
That's tough sledding against conservatives, for whom "amnesty" is anathema.
"I don't think we can go with that," Jordan told Politico. "What we have to go for is something that's consistent with the mandate of the election, and I don't think that was consistent with the mandate of the election."
Leverage, at the moment, is on the side of conservatives and leadership; moderates were hoping to have secured the necessary votes to advance the petition before Congress breaks for its week-long recess Thursday.
"It's become tougher," Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar told the Post. "We continue to be optimistic that we'll get there, but it's hard — it's hard to get to 25 or 26 (Republicans). ... Leadership's working them to try to keep them from signing."