It could allow the immigration bill to pass the House, but Beutler doesn’t expect it to materialize because “immigration Republicans who signed on would face external consequences, even if leadership tacitly give it the go ahead.” Drum nods:
A different House and a different party leader might be crafty enough to see the value in a discharge petition, but not this one. They’re true believers. They won’t secretly agree to leave the defectors alone after the vote, which is the minimum necessary for this to work, nor will John Boehner risk telling them secretly that he won’t take away their committee assignments or otherwise retaliate against them. The party leadership just doesn’t have this level of craftiness in them.
Bernstein adds his voice to the chorus:
It’s one thing to vote against the party on substance; it’s a much bigger deal to work with Democrats to gain control of the House floor.
The Dish 