Immigration reform to be tackled too?

Congress has a busy rest of the year with health care now at the forefront in both chambers, a "cap and trade" bill set to be voted on tomorrow in the House, the call for new financial regulations, and Sotomayor's upcoming confirmation hearings in the Senate, but now another big issue may be around the corner. President Obama is meeting today with Congressional leaders on the issue of immigration reform.

Seeking to build momentum, Obama will meet today with at least 20 House and Senate members from both parties, officials said. But White House aides have worked to lower expectations, noting Congress's inability to deliver legislation to former president George W. Bush in 2006 and 2007, and vowing to proceed with debate this year only with strong bipartisan support.

"The president wants to make it clear he is serious," a senior White House official said yesterday. "He also wants to make it clear he's going to need strong partnership and leadership on both sides of the aisle to get the right policies moving."

Like so many issues, immigration reform is one with pressing need. But I can't say the chances look good with everything else on the Congressional plate right now. And like those other contentious issues, if it doesn't get done this year, it may not get done since Congress doesn't like to take those kinds of things up during an election year. It will take some serious political will to make it happen.

Is it there? We'll see, but it's good the conversation is getting started again.