WASHINGTON — The Western Governors' Association on Tuesday approved an immigration resolution offered by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., just days before the Senate expects to take action on a major immigration bill.

The resolution passed with no opposition, although several governors cast votes by proxy since they were not there in person.

"This is not about scoring political points, this is about a group of governors who want, very badly, to seek comprehensive reform in a very, very important policy area," Huntsman said. "The timing could not be better."

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin work on an immigration reform bill Thursday. Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., issued a base bill to senators on Friday. Immigration trackers say the base bill is better than the bill the House passed last year but still needs some work.

"Having a group of Western governors weigh in at this point, we thought, would be a very important thing," Huntsman said.

The resolution allows the governors to express "practical, pragmatic solutions" to influence the outcome in Congress.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who heads the WGA, said border security and illegal immigration disproportionately affect the West compared to the rest of the country.

"This needs to be dealt with as a law enforcement issue, as a visa issue and as a labor market issue," she said. "What we really need is a comprehensive approach to this issue."

Huntsman said he thinks Congress will listen to what the governors have to say and that they are looking for their opinions.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee but is still reviewing the latest version of the bill, according to his office.

The House passed its own version of an immigration bill last year, including an amendment by Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, which prevents the mandatory construction of day labor facilities by private businesses.

Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow with the Manhattan Institute who is following the debate, said it is "highly important that the governors are speaking out."

She said the governors have said that the federal government's "ostrich-head-in-the-sand policy of immigration" is not working and the problems roll down to the states.

As for Specter's proposal, Jacoby said there is "good architecture" to it but that it will need work.

"You can take a little shack that's not glamorous and build a glorious palace," Jacoby said. "The problem here is they didn't quite design the rooms right."

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