ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert says he sees little chance for President Bush's controversial plan to give illegal immigrants temporary worker status.
The Illinois Republican says he favors the idea but doubts the votes are there to pass it.
"Our chairman of the judiciary, where this has to go through, has not been very receptive to it. So I'm not even sure we'll get it through the judiciary committee." Hastert told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald editorial board in an hour-long session earlier this week.
Under Bush's plan, which he plugged in Tuesday's State of the Union address, illegal immigrants could legally work in the United States for up to six years and travel back to their native countries without fear of having their return blocked.
Hastert said he has sponsored temporary worker legislation in the past and praised Bush for starting the immigration debate.
On another thorny issue, Hastert said he supports a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
