From NBC's Mike Viqueira and Mark Murray
This morning, Hotline's blog reported that House Minority Leader John Boehner told a closed gathering of GOP "rapid responders" last night that the Senate immigration bill is a "piece of @#$%." Said Boehner, according to two attendees: "I promised the President today that I wouldn't say anything bad about ... this piece of @#$% bill."

Boehner's office today didn't deny that Boehner said those words. "The comment attributed to the Republican Leader was nothing but an off-the-cuff wisecrack made jokingly during a private gathering," said Boehner's press secretary. "While he has serious concerns about the Senate bill, it's unfortunate that this comment in particular found its way into print."