Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
What's awesome????
Why? They aren't going to listen to US! They are going to do what they damn well please anyway.
Their constituents mean NOTHING to them, now that they have gotten their vote!!!
Mark my words: it's going to go through no matter what we say. President Bush has wanted this all along and now we ALL know it!
I certainly thought it was a “done deal” as my reply to the original post yesterday suggests. I am glad for the opportunity to at least have a rant by calling the numbers provided here.
Seems that you have more problems with Bush than most Dems. Sellout on the WOT, that is a stretch by any measure. Sort of like your a $0R0$ plant??
Pray for W and Our Troops
He’s guilty of not marching lockstep.
Pray for W and Our Troops
-PJ
Just think how many will qualify for EIC.
You can’t fight a “WOT” with open borders, funding for Fatah, or encouraging more Muslim immigration. You see, it isn’t a “War on Terror”, but a War with Islam and Islam is NOT a “religion of peace”.
“Pray for W”
Indeed. Pray that he’ll actually work for the United States for a change.
I suppose that thread serves the purpose of keeping the obsessed fans who think GWB is “hot” and gush on and on about what Laura is wearing off of the threads that actually have meaning.
Reading the Dose makes me ill.
Ho`Hay Bush and the Pukes have sold US out,,,
The WOT is on the Back-Burner now,,,
Ya’ll Better Like Tacos...
Racist? Factual,is more like it.Most blacks vote democrat.Most Hispanics vote 3 to 1 Democrat.
And then you said:" That's my definition of peons vs. peed-ons."
I STILL don't get it!!
Suggesting that blacks and Hispanics cannot become conservatives is racist.
LOL. That's almost a deeply ironic statement!
You’ll cross the line at some point and be zotted, troll. You are perilously close with the way you cavalierly toss around the racist tag.
I’m not a troll, and I don’t carelessly throw around the racist tag. If you want to discuss something specific in my posts, please do.
Actually these threads are valuable for $0R0$ plants and utopian conservatives. Which are you??
Pray for W and Our Troops
Time for Human Resources to start firing some people.
Here it is:
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