Posted on 05/21/2013 8:45:47 AM PDT by cotton1706
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are focused on wooing two conservative Republican senators they consider crucial to expanding support for immigration reform beyond the Gang of Eight and maximizing pressure on the House.
Some Democrats believe they have a shot of securing the support of Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, who offered encouraging words early on in the Judiciary panel’s markup of the legislation.
But Democrats say they’ll first need to win backing from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), whom they consider key to getting Cornyn, as well as other Republicans outside the Gang of Eight, on board.
“Hatch is a key figure. If we can get Hatch, then Cornyn is gettable. If we can’t get Hatch, we can’t get Cornyn,” said a senior Democratic aide.
The efforts to win over the two Republicans are vital to the Senate Democrats’ broader goal of passing immigration reform with as many votes as possible.
That would give political cover to centrist Democrats facing tough reelections next year, and bolster momentum for passing comprehensive reform in the lower chamber.
Winning over Hatch will depend on getting a deal on H-1B visas for high-skilled workers, a top priority for the Utah Republican and for the high-tech industry.
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, has diligently wooed Hatch, requesting more time from Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to work out a deal on the visas.
Schumer also offered one of Hatch’s amendments on Monday when Hatch missed the session.
Schumer is even willing to risk the wrath of organized labor by dealing with Hatch. The AFL-CIO has slammed Hatch’s amendments on H-1B visas.
A second senior Democratic aide said Cornyn is a possible “yes” vote on final passage.
But the Democratic aide warned Cornyn’s support would hinge on whether his home-state colleague, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), gives him leeway to do so.
“Cruz would have to give him political cover. He would have to say something like ‘I’m personally opposed to the bill but I recognize the contributions it makes to fixing the immigration system,’ ” the aide said.
Schumer said he was “very heartened” by the “kind words” Cornyn and Cruz offered on different parts of the immigration bill during the Judiciary Committee’s first day of markup.
“I think they know it’s a good proposal,” he told reporters.
Democratic leaders want to avoid the scenario that earlier this year doomed the Manchin-Toomey proposal to expand background checks for gun sales.
Democrats were initially optimistic that the support of Sen. Pat Toomey (Pa.), a conservative Republican with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, would seal a victory on gun control legislation. But Toomey only managed to bring along Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Democrats hope Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a favorite among conservative voters and a member of the Gang of Eight, will embolden a large number of Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform. But they are leery of the prospect that the bill might not draw much support beyond the Gang of Eight and pass the Senate narrowly with diminished political momentum.
Vulnerable Democrats would like to see 70 votes for immigration reform to feel comfortable backing it.
Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.), one of the most endangered Democrats, told The Wall Street Journal he is uncommitted and would like to see a final vote “north of 70 votes.”
This makes Cornyn, and especially Hatch, important to building a favorable impression among Republicans before the bill hits the Senate floor next month.
“Hatch, Hatch, Hatch. I think he’s put it out there quite clearly that he’s in play if he likes which amendments of his pass,” said Lynn Tramonte, deputy director at America’s Voice, an advocacy group that supports the bill.
Tramonte, however, said Cornyn needs to validate his encouraging talk about immigration reform with action.
“For years he’s claimed to be an immigration reformer. He drafted a bill, and then when it came time to vote, he voted ‘no,’ ” Tramonte said. “I’d love to be pleasantly surprised but with him, it’s not just talking the talk but walking the walk.”
One senior Democratic aide said he would be “shocked” if Cornyn voted for the bill.
Cornyn has a long record of calling for immigration reform but voting against Senate proposals.
In a November interview with The Washington Post, he noted that one-third of Texas’s population is Hispanic, and has called it a “demographic necessity” for Republicans to expand their appeal among the fast-growing electoral bloc.
In April of last year, he told Univision that “people are much more aware that we cannot maintain our current broken immigration system.”
“As my colleague and friend Marco Rubio says, Republicans must be the party of ... legal immigration. How do we make it easier for people to migrate, maintain families together and use the people that we need so that our economy can continue to grow,” he said.
But in 2010, Cornyn voted against ending a filibuster of the DREAM Act, which would have given legal status to illegal immigrants who were brought to the country at a young age.
Cornyn also voted against comprehensive immigration reform legislation in 2007.
Even so, he remains a tempting target given his influence within the Senate Republican Caucus and his expertise on immigration issues from representing a border state.
Cornyn is the Senate Republican whip and chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the past two election cycles.
Cornyn can be removed from office next November, and needs to be. He is also the Minority Whip, second in command under McConnell.
The democrats always go after the weak links, and those weak links are always moderate-liberal republicans. Yet the RNC and RNSC continually support moderate-liberal candidates for office, and liberalism marches on!
Not just RNC and RNSC. Sarah Palin also supported Hatch’s reelection.
Hatch is easy. Ted Kennedy just had to show a little thigh above the knee and Orrin would drool and follow.
>> Cornyn can be removed from office next November, and needs to be.
Normally what Cornyn does is dust off the ol’ ten-gallon hat, mount his RINO butt on his big white horse, and get some nice footage of the “conservative Texas cowboy” for his campaign spots. He counts on the fact that we’ll all forget his six years of aisle-crossing bipartisanship.
That worked pretty well last time around, when the *other* TX senator was Kay Bailey Hutchison. Next to KBH, Cornyn actually *was* a shade more conservative, although you need to be in good light to tell.
But something new has happened to change Johnny’s political calculus this time around. His name is Ted Cruz.
I’m hoping and praying that because of the “Cruz effect”, Cornyn is NOT in fact “gettable” for this shamnesty nonsense.
“Hatch is easy. Ted Kennedy just had to show a little thigh above the knee and Orrin would drool and follow.”
Wow, bet that was a LOT of thigh, lol !
>> Sarah Palin also supported Hatch’s reelection.
I still haven’t forgiven her for that one. Just capital-D Dumb.
Yeah, she was a damn fool in doing so.
What happened in Texas was Dewhurst was the Establishment candidate and Cruz was raised up from the grass roots. Cruz was dead meat until Sarah anointed him.
The only hitch in Sarah's get along for me is she will NEVER go against McCain. She was raised from obscurity by him and will NEVER turn on him IMHO. All other races, you just pick the best you can get elected. Some will leave a bad taste in your mouth. I wasn't thrilled about Romney, but that's all I had.
Indeed. Cornyn has been making much more conservative sounds lately. But so did McCain before his last Senate run and so did Hatch. I don't trust him an inch.
Cornyn is soooo GOPe it is sickening.
During the Alaska primary when Miller beat old sour puss up there / Lisa Murkowski / remember that Lisa was all lawyered up and challenged Miller’s primary victory and then ran as independent? I called Cornyn (head of the Senatorial Campaign Committee) at his main TX office. I called to complain that Miller won and for them to stop backing Murkowski in that race. The young punk who answered the phone told me that Cornyn HAD TO send lawyers up to Alaska as she was a sitting Senator and had to support HER. I said what are you talking about, MILLER WON the primary.. he repeated his statement and I told him that is the reason a conservative will NEVER EVER, EVER donate money to his GOP Senate Campaign Committee. Why would we. Kid says sorry to hear that. I said not as sorry as I was that Cornyn claimed to be a Republican. Told them SHAME on them and hung up.
Sounds like Texas Freepers need to contact both Cruz and Cornyn right away. I hate the thought of the detestable Chuck Schumer referring to Texas senators as "our republicans."
>> I don’t trust him an inch.
Neither do I.
But on the immigration bill, at least, Cornyn will be FORCED to commit to one side or the other, well before campaign season. The rest of the pro-amnesty crowd will see to that.
Hopefully Sen. Cruz will be able to bend him the right way, against his natural instincts to be a go-along-get-along.
Sarah Palin supported both Hatch and McCain’s re-elect bids.
And you see how the GOP rewards her for her loyalty.
You are part of our first line of defense against amnesty and 33 million work permits for foreign job seekers over the next 10 years and your help is needed this week. You have a Senator(s) on the Senate Judiciary Committee that will vote on S. 744 tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22.
Please phone your Senator TODAY
800-843-6735
It’s possible Cornyn won’t vote for it, but only because he’s up for election in ‘14, and will apparently have a primary challenger.
Just got off the phone with Cornyn’s office. One of his clerks informed me that John will definitely not be voting for Amnesty in any form. Clerk is obviously not happy about all the calls and comments - very icy attitude.
Regardless of Cornyn’s stance on amnesty, I will not ever vote for him again but hope we will have someone run against him that our family and other grassroots constitutional conservatives can support.
Do it Coryn, and we conservatives will treat you like KBH Lite!!!!
BTTT
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