Posted on 05/17/2006 9:47:43 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Wednesday to exclude illegal immigrants convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors from a chance at remaining in the United States under what critics say is an amnesty program.
The unanimous vote on an amendment that before Easter had been considered a "poison pill" provided added momentum for broad immigration bill that would give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants and put many of them on a path toward citizenship.
The amendment by two of the bill's leading opponents, Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas, was softened Tuesday in negotiations with the legislation's supporters. The sponsors agreed to include exceptions for hardship cases and those who didn't know a deportation order had been issued for them, winning the additional support.
"We want to keep those who could harm us, the criminal element, out," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., one of the authors of the bill. "Those who could benefit us ought to remain."
Critics of the legislation aren't giving up, however, and planned to keep trying to reshape the bill.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala., offered an amendment Wednesday that would erect more fencing along the nearly 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border, an idea similar to one in an enforcement-only bill passed by the House in December.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Wednesday that lawmakers increasingly realize the need for a comprehensive plan that goes beyond trying to stop people at the border.
"If you just try to build a wall 30 feet high and 2,000 miles long, it will be insufficient. People will go up over it, around it, in order to get a job in this country," Frist said on CBS' "The Early Show."
In other words, the amendment is meaningless.
ping
"If you just try to build a wall 30 feet high and 2,000 miles long, it will be insufficient"
Not if you add guard dogs at the base of the wall!
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Good God! DC numbskulls at work. Sheesh!
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00125
Vote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (Kyl Amdt. No. 4027 )
Vote Number: 125 Vote Date: May 17, 2006, 10:39 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 4027 to S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )
Statement of Purpose: To make certain aliens ineligible for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status or Deferred Mandatory Departure status.
Vote Counts: YEAs 99
NAYs 0
Not Voting 1
Well, we gotta start somewhere Fristy. Let's start with shutting down the Department of Education and taking those funds to build the fence. Sacrifices need to be made, so let's start with the Federal Government.
It's all about process yaknow, not about content.. or impact.
Our "leaders" never tire of insulting our intelligence.
With that, we should be bouncing his sorry arse out of the US........
I think it is just a lot of flatulance.
"If you just try to build a wall 30 feet high and 2,000 miles long, it will be insufficient. People will go up over it, around it, in order to get a job in this country," Frist said on CBS' "The Early Show."
Ok Bill. Maybe your right. Now, why don't you go ahead and build one just to humor us.
We keep hearing how this "just won't work", but they have never really tried it. Of course, aside from a fence or wall, they would have to step up the patrols of such a fence. When that is accomplished, I would gurantee Frist that illegals coming into this country would diminish by large margins.
For a lot of folks who cross the border, it is the ease of the task that draws them to do it. Obstacles do have a way of deterring folks. Using an old phrase, it "keeps honest people, honest"
Our current situation is analogous to placing a help wanted sign on the whole United States.
"If you just try to build a wall 30 feet high and 2,000 miles long, it will be insufficient. People will go up over it, around it, in order to get a job in this country," Frist said on CBS' "The Early Show."
Well Billy Boy, ever heard of hitting the Employers and turning off the Job Faucet? HUH??
Idiot
But it sure would be a good start!
None of this requires granting citizenship to those who entered the country illegally, yet that's what this bill seems to insist on. Legalization of some kind is almost inevitable. Granting citizenship is not. How long under this bill would it take to become a citizen anyway? It's ridiculous to insist on a 'path to citizenship'.
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