Posted on 06/06/2007 10:22:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
A landmark attempt to reform US immigration laws and grant a path to citizenship for around 12 million illegal immigrants faces its most crucial test yet in a moment of high political drama Thursday.
Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has scheduled a device known as a cloture vote on limiting time for debate on the package, in an effort to force it through the Senate this week.
Republicans, many of whom are under intense pressure from conservative supporters over the bill, have however complained that Reid's move would thwart a sheaf of amendments they wish to debate, and want more time.
Reid needs 60 votes to move the bill forward in the closely divided Senate. He has said he would shelve the legislation if the cloture vote fails.
That could be fatal for the bill, as any attempt to bring it back to the Senate floor later this year or early next year would mean it would land square in the political maelstrom of congressional and presidential elections in 2008.
The bill, agreed last month with the White House, is intended to bring undocumented workers out of the shadows, establish a merit-based points system for future immigrants and forge a low-wage temporary worker program.
It includes a border security crackdown, punishments for employers who hire illegal immigrants and an attempt to wipe out a backlog of visa applications from those who have gone through legal immigration channels.
If it passes, the measure would form a key plank of President George W. Bush's legacy. But the measure has attracted fierce opposition and been branded an amnesty for illegal immigrants by conservative groups.
Earlier, the Senate voted 51 to 46 to knock back the measure on depriving benefits to immigrants with certain criminal convictions and irregularities in documentation, after critics said it would have disqualified too many people.
Supporters of the bill said the amendment, framed by Texas Senator John Cornyn, would have fractured the fragile cross-party coalition trying to push the landmark bill through the Senate.
The measure would have barred any immigrant who had violated a deportation order or used false documents, among other offenses.
Moments before the vote, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer had lambasted the measure as "a stealth, trojan horse amendment," and pleaded with senators for the controversial legislation to oppose it.
One substitute amendment did pass. Put forward by one of the immigration bill's architects Senator Edward Kennedy, it disqualified applicants who are gang members, members of terrorist groups, smugglers or those who have repeat drink-driving convictions. But it dropped language on deportation orders.
US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, another architect of the legislation, is urging lawmakers to avoid making changes that could tear it apart.
In an interview with AFP, Gutierrez said he feared that amendments could "break" a fragile compromise that was reached between the White House and Republican and Democratic senators three weeks ago after intense negotiations.
"The biggest risk would be the introduction of amendments," Gutierrez said in the interview in Spanish.
Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who opposes much of the bill's content, said support for the measure was beginning to fade.
"I think enthusiasm is waning for the legislation," Sessions told reporters.
"If it goes through, it is going to be limping through without the kind of momentum it started out with."
If the measure passes the Senate, it will go the House of Representatives, where is it assured a rocky reception, and passage is not guaranteed.
The House and Senate versions of the bill would then have to be reconciled before it is sent to the president to be signed into law.
But if a majority of voting Americans oppose this bill (certainly the case, or it would have passed already), how could Sen. Reid “blame” the GOP or anyone else?
Just the opposite, I think: he knows this tar-baby will be dumped on HIM if it passes and he wants to kill this thing, fast.
Whatever it takes; this abominable bill must die.
The Rat leadership, including Reid, do want this legislation in the worst way and know that because President Bush and Senators Kyl and McCain are foolishly giving them cover, there is a unique opportunity whereby they can create tens of millions of future Democrat voters.
The moment may have already passed, or it just might be open a little while longer if they can squeak it through right now.
Just say NO to Amnesty!! Before it’s too late!!
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That could be fatal for the bill, as any attempt to bring it back to the Senate floor later this year or early next year would mean it would land square in the political maelstrom of congressional and presidential elections in 2008.
No bill=no funding for the fence for two to three more years. That was the whole purpose of this puppet show...Look like you are doing something but really do nothing. Brilliant. Funny thing is, most people will cheer when the bill is dead.
“Where’s the fence?” Once the Senate can do that, let the debate continue.
they have ALREADY got the funds and the authorization for the WALL (or fence, whatever) and El Presidente Jorge Boosh STILL refuses to build it.
So killing this bill will not impact the Wall at all. It aint getting built anyhow, thanks to Amigo Jorge Boosh...
What killing this bill WILL do is prevent a bunch of ILLEGAL, CRIMINAL, ALIENS from instantly become legal residents of this country, and thus eligible for all the Welfare State ENTITLEMENTS that the worst Democratic administrations (and unfortunately the admin of Jorge Boosh) were able to concoct...
THAT is what is at stake here. Boosh has already blown up any hope of a Wall-Fence.
Not true..they only got a small down payment funded.
Any Republican who votes for cloture is off my list of people to support, now and forever. This tears it.
Any Democrat who votes against cloture will be on my list for consideration for future support. This is a one-time-offer, never to be repeated.
“The biggest risk would be the introduction of amendments,”
US Commerce Secretary CARLOS GUTIERREZ said in the interview in SPANISH.
Big deeal. This whole ammendment exercise is a big Dog & Pony show anyway. These GOP senators want to say: “Look, I proposed this or that ammendment, but those bad old Dems shot it down.” Sorry Charlie, I don’t buy it. Its a ploy to give these guys just enough political cover to keep their jobs—after they stab their base in the back.
“Look like you are doing something but really do nothing. Brilliant.”
Whether the fence gets built or not is of little consequence at the moment.
The debate in this country regarding needed changes in the immigration system and enforcement of the laws is far from over. It needs to be debated and decided fairly, not avoided by instantly legalizing illegal aliens via some midnight bill.
The defeat of this bill is of paramount importance. If this passes, there is no going back.
Excuse me? How many millions more will come into this country within the next two to three years?
WooHooo!!! I'm so excited that we couldn't get a decent bill to pass!! Now we will have fewer of those Mexicans!/s
49% (against a bill) is approximately double Congress’ favorability ratings right now. They should wake up and realize that the American public has been roused to anger.
Guiterrez forgot one thing and that is the American people.
This bill should be ripped up and thrown down the toliet.
Thomas died last week, costing us another vote. I don’t see how we stop this unless we “amendment” it to death.
A Real Immigration Reform Plan
1. Secure the Borders
a. Install 750 miles of fence within 180 days. Priority funding.
b. Hire, train, and deploy 5,000 new border agents ASAP, with extreme urgency. Priority funding.
c. Use military surveillance hardware/personnel to monitor unfenced gaps. Priority funding.
2. Deport Illegal Aliens
a. Priority 1 - Any illegal alien who has committed a non-violent crime and is currently incarcerated is to be immediately deported and permanently banned from entry into the US.
b. Priority 2 – Any illegal alien who is arrested/detained/discovered during the course of normal police activities is to be finger-printed, deported and permanently banned from entry into the US.
c. Priority 3 – Any illegal alien who is discovered through active ICE investigation processes is to be finger-printed, deported and permanently banned from entry into the US.
3. Positive Identification/Punish Employers of Illegal Aliens
a. Institute a National Visa Database (NVD). Data entered by ICE, accessed via web by all potential employers.
b. Require all persons entering the US for the purpose of working to submit to fingerprinting and photograph. This person is issued a uniquely numbered ID card issued from the NVD with photograph.
c. Require ALL employers to provide proof of legal status for all employees. $100,000 fine per illegal alien employed.
No Amnesty for illegals or their employers.
ping
quis·ling(kwzlng)
n.
A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country.
[After Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), head of Norway’s government during the Nazi occupation (1940-1945).]
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