It seems like intense pressure from immigrant advocates and outspoken lawmakers like Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., is paying off.  They say Hispanic support for President Obama and other Democrats may suffer without action on immigration reform.
 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying the House is ready to take up the matter once the Senate passes a bill.  In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid is indicating willingness to move forward on reform this year.  He's in a tough re-election battle and Hispanic voters will come in handy.
 
But what about climate change?  It was supposed to be next on the agenda with Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman planning to introduce new legislation in the next few days.  And reports indicate Kerry has pushed hard for climate to come first. 
 
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., also an outspoken supporter of moving forward with a climate change bill, says the Senate can deal with both issues.  She reminded reporters about the 60 votes needed to pass either bill there.
 
Sen. Graham could be pivotal in deciding what comes first and what gets done.  He's the one Republican closely involved with both climate change and immigration.  And, after the health care vote, he expressed strong doubts about immigration.  
 
Republicans generally are not pushing hard for either issue.  And Democrats are skeptical of taking on anything too controversial in advance of the November elections.  Perhaps Pelosi and Reid are seeing promise in making sure many Hispanic voters don't stay home or go to the polls angry. 
 
mquinones@cncnews.org
http://Twitter.com/ManuelQ