Maybe nobody should be surprised by the latest punt in the Capitol game of immigration reform. Republican leaders, all but ensuring that no progress will be made this year, have taken the unusual step of calling for a nationwide series of summer hearings on the issue.

After all, it's an election year. Why get any real work done when there's political posturing to do?

The hearings will accomplish nothing other than create a platform for platitudes about securing the borders and enforcing laws against illegal immigrants.

There's nothing wrong with discussions, but these are certain to resemble campaign speeches more than negotiations aimed at compromise between the House and Senate proposals. The bipartisan Senate immigration bill may be labyrinthine and flawed, but it still more closely approaches solutions than the all-enforcement House plan.

There can be no meaningful reform without the reality check: There are too many undocumented workers here to deport, especially with current budget constraints; allowances have to be made for some of them to remain and work, if only temporarily.

And the practice of hiring these workers has to bring harsh sanctions; otherwise businesses will continue to entice people to cross the border.

However, it looks as if we'll have to wait until the polls close in November for serious lawmaking.

It's pitiful.