Washington Examiner:
"My goal is always to bring bills to the floor that have a strong Republican majority," Boehner said. "Immigration reform is a very difficult issue. But I don't intend to bring an immigration bill to the floor that violates what I and what members of my party -- what our principles are."
The differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that the Senate is controlled by Democrats with a few Republicans in name only (RINO's) that are supportive of amnesty for illegal aliens as well as diverting funds from border security to provide government funded health care to illegal immigrants, as Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer plans to suggest.
Boxer's amendment funds this assistance by using fees paid by illegal immigrants applying for legalization. Under the Senate bill currently, that money is earmarked for border security. The amendment is an admission that the rush to legalization will put a strain on taxpayers. It is also an admission that border security isn't a big priority for many of those supporting this bill.
Boxer is also seeking to allow newly legalized immigrants to access federal welfare benefits sooner. Currently, it could take up to 15 years for immigrants to access the full range of federal assistance programs. Boxer would like to reduce that by 5 years.
The Republicans in the House of Representatives understand that it would be political suicide to endorse or pass any bill that rewarded criminals, illegal aliens, for coming and/or staying in the United States illegally when so many legal immigrants followed the laws and came here legally and are productive members of society.
Any Republican that offers amnesty aka "path to citizenship" to those who broke the every first laws upon entering and/or staying in America as well as offering them taxpayer funded healthcare and welfare benefits, will suffer for it in the 2014 midterm elections.
John Boehner seems to realize this.