'We have sort of an irresolvable conflict here,' McConnell says. | JAY WESTCOTT/POLITICO McConnell: Immigration 'irresolvable'

Mitch McConnell is downright bearish on the prospects of sweeping new immigration laws in 2014.

Several days after House Republicans unveiled their long awaited standards on immigration, the Senate minority leader told reporters Tuesday that he doesn’t see any way for the House and Senate to resolve their differences. McConnell indicated that the problem lies in the chambers’ differing procedural approaches to immigration reform, rather than specific policy differences.


“We have sort of an irresolvable conflict here. The Senate insists on comprehensive. The House says it won’t go to conference with the Senate on comprehensive and wants to look at step-by-step,” the Kentucky Republican said. “I don’t see how you get to an outcome this year with the two bodies in such a different place.”

( CARTOONS: Matt Wuerker on immigration)

Congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama have both indicated openness to doing piecemeal reform, as long as it covers all components of immigration reform.

McConnell’s remarks threw cold water on burgeoning optimism among lawmakers and business interests supportive of a broad immigration overhaul as well as the White House, which indicated support of the House’s direction. It’s not necessarily a surprise that McConnell is not the loudest cheerleader for immigration reform’s prospects, given that he voted against the Senate’s comprehensive bill last summer.

But the GOP leader’s remarks are at odds with remarks of influential Republican senators like John McCain of Arizona, who has made a point to not criticize the House or take potshots at reform’s prospects.

“We hope that they continue to make progress,” McCain said Tuesday, adding that he is “fully supportive” of the House.