Posted on 04/07/2006 8:01:17 PM PDT by HoldFast
One Republican Senate staffer who's been working on the immigration bill tells NRO how it all went down: Around Wednesday afternoon, it became clear that Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) were preparing to offer their compromise bill as an alternative to the original Judiciary Committee bill. The compromise wasn't really a compromise at all, because both bills were big on amnesty and weak on enforcement.
On Wednesday night, as soon as the floor was clear, Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) entered the Senate chamber and added their own substitution - an enforcement-only bill that called for the construction of a fence, the addition of more enforcement personnel and broader use of surveillance technology, among other measures. Under Senate rules, their substitution blocked the Hagel-Martinez bill from consideration.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-'08) wanted a vote on the Hagel-Martinez compromise, and so he sent the bill back to the Judiciary Committee with instructions that the committee strip out the Sessions-Nelson enforcement bill and add in the Hagel-Martinez compromise.
The committee complied, and sent the bill back to the floor with the changes Frist wanted. This morning, the Senate voted 38-60 against cloture on the Hagel-Martinez compromise, and 36-62 against cloture on the original Judiciary Committee bill - effectively killing both. The similar margins, the staffer says, "show you that the compromise didn't get us very far."
Treason is high drama I guess?
Are you sure there isn't a D behind Hagel's name and a R behind Nelson's name?
Hmmm...So Nelson the Democrat is tougher on illegals than Hagel than Republican...
Can we trade Hagel for Nelson?
Nebraskans are no smarter than Arizonans. They send us their worst excuses for Republicans and we all suffer for it.
LoL.. Drama Queens prancing mincing competeing to seem tough..
Tough is brewing on the streets and getting hairy..
I have a feeling Americans are nearing " just about had it" time..
You know, real Americans.. not legalized aliens..
I pray to God you're right. I know I've had it with this traitorous government.
So what do we have?
Paralysis.
Paralysis is being hailed as a victory.
However, in truth, paralysis means status quo.
Status quo means 1.5 million more illegals cross the border this year.
The takeover continues. Congress did nothing, and will do nothing.
The people do not have the political power to break the business interests' lock on the Republican power, and the Democrats are relying on the Hispanic vote to win all their future elections.
This was no victory for Republicans today. It was an abject defeat. No immigration reform means that the Democrats take over the country through illegal immigration.
QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.
Yes, but now what do we do about Frist? I'm beginning to view him as public enemy number one.
Correct. Maintain principles and work to introduce HR 4437 to the floor.
Treason is high drama I guess?
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Yes, because we are coming to find out that we are not all equal under the law...especially illegals and the Congress that is guilty of aiding and abetting...hello McCain, Kennedy, Reid, et al....
The problem is lack of enforcement. As bad as the 1986 law was, it is not the reason for the flood of immigrants. The insatiable desire for cheap labor is preventing enforcement. More profits means more money for lobbyists.
The problem is lack of enforcement. As bad as the 1986 law was, it is not the reason for the flood of immigrants. The insatiable desire for cheap labor is preventing enforcement. More profits means more money for lobbyists.
You think that's going to work?
Nothing is going to work with the current Congress unless some mighty blow comes to shuffle the deck.
Limbaugh's idea of a general tax revolt would do it.
If all 72% of the country who oppose illegal immigration folded their arms and refused to pay any taxes, the whole system would come crashing to the floor in a few weeks, and Congress would back down in terror.
Sorry about the duplication.
Government isn't going to enforce the law on this issue, because the business and political interests are overwhelming.
The only way to force a change would be a general tax revolt.
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