Senate

Reid: Rubio ‘denigrating’ his own immigration bill

by Jordain Carney - 01/11/16 4:45 PM ET

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) knocked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) over his characterization of his involvement in a 2013 immigration effort, suggesting the presidential contender has flip-flopped from his previous positions.

“Now we have people like the junior senator from Florida that’s denigrating his own bill,” Reid said Monday. “He has taken a 360 degree turn and said, ‘I did all that but I guess I was wrong.'”

{mosads}Reid’s comments came as the Democratic leader defended President Obama ahead of his final State of the Union address. Among other things, Reid supported the president’s decision to take controversial executive actions on immigration after Congress failed to pass reform legislation.

Reid suggested on Monday that the Florida Republican’s presidential ambitions were at the heart of the policy switch.

“Suddenly he decides he wants to run for a national office and says that everything he did to bring that bill to the Senate floor was wrong,” Reid said.

It’s also the latest example of the Nevada Democrat, and other key senators, criticizing Rubio, suggesting he’s trying to distance himself from the “Gang of Eight” immigration efforts.

Last week, Reid called the Florida Republican a “hypocrite” on the issue, while Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said last year that Rubio’s fingerprints are “all over” the immigration bill.

Rubio’s involvement in the legislation has been at the center of an immigration battle between Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is also running for president.

Since the legislation failed to gain traction to pass through Congress, Rubio has suggested that America needs to focus on securing its borders before moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform.

Tags Harry Reid Immigration reform Marco Rubio