Iowa Congressman Jim Leach says President Bush’s new immigration proposal was one of the top issues he heard about while back in Iowa for the Caucuses. Leach, a republican, says opinions of Iowans are as varied as those in Congress. He says to reach legislative consensus on the issue is going to be “extremely difficult” as many in Congress don’t want anything to happen and some want something more progressive then the president proposed. Leach can’t say which side he falls on. He says he’s open to the idea of “some compassionate change,” but says he’s not reached a decision on how far to go. Leach says it’s important to discuss the issue. He says it’s healthy for the president to lay an approach on the table, but says he can’t say if it’s the exact right approach. Leach says the immigration issue was one of the things discussed in his republican caucus as they talked about the party
