Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (yes, there is such a group and, yes, it makes perfect sense for true, small government conservatives), had a strategy call this week. Here's a key comment from the call:

Congressman Lincoln Diaz Balart stated, “We’re ready in the House…There is a variety of thinking in both parties on this issue. Republicans have backed off in the Senate. They have not backed off in the House.”

His brother, Congressman Mario Diaz Balart continued, “This issue is, how do we get it done? Where we are today. Obama said that in his first 12 months he would pass immigration reform. We have 30 working days in the 111th Congress. That’s when Obama decides [to give a speech]. What have we seen following the speech? We need to pressure the White House and the Speaker to allow us to vote on a bill… There are Republican votes [in the House]. What we need is for the President to tell the Speaker to get this on the agenda. We could get it passed in the House… I’m pretty certain.”

Sweet! From the Arizona Republic:

Seven political activists claiming their civil rights were violated after they were arrested and cited for protesting against Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration policies recently were awarded nearly $475,000 by Maricopa County.

The settlement, reached this week, was nine times more than what the county's self-insured trust had originally authorized in February, and significantly higher than what the county planned to offer just days before the settlement, according to memos obtained by The Arizona Republic.