Posted on 06/27/2007 4:58:17 PM PDT by notes2005
WASHINGTON — The fragile immigration reform bill crafted in the Senate faces sudden death Thursday when a second vote is scheduled to shut down a filibuster.
If supporters don't get the 60 votes they need to end debate, then the bill is dead since the Senate schedule does not allow any more time to revive the legislation.
In an unusual admission, two leadership aides — one Democrat, one Republican — told FOX News that they have no idea how the vote will go. Vote-counting is something that is normally down to a science in the Senate chamber. The vote to end debate, called "cloture," is expected at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The mood in the Senate took a perceptible shift Wednesday as lawmakers decided not to "table," or send into permanent limbo, one of the 27 amendments approved for debate. That amendment was designed to weaken worker verification standards that are key to the measure's approach to reducing the ability of illegals to obtain work with fraudulent documents.
The Senate vote, 45-52, not to kill the amendment stops all momentum toward passage, something the White House and bipartisan Senate leadership hoped to achieve by Friday.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Late Wednesday, two Republicans, Sens. Kit Bond of Missouri and Richard Burr of North Carolina, told FOX News that they will switch their vote and not try to prevent the filibuster. One Democrat who never votes against cloture, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, also told FOX News that he will vote “no” this time.
“Enough is enough. There have been seven cloture votes I’ve voted yes on. This is an extraordinary circumstance. But enough is enough. ... This clay pigeon is looking like a dead duck,” Nelson said.
The clay pigeon refers to the amendments that were introduced as one large package shot into 27 smaller pieces to prevent anyone from being able to block the bill. Critics have said Reid’s decision to use the clay pigeon was high-handed, and both Bond and Burr said they don’t consider it to be a fair process.
At least nine other senators told FOX News they are undecided or leaning toward a no vote. They include Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor, Jim Webb, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Menendez and Republican Sens. Ted Stevens, Lisa Murkowski, Pete Domenici, Judd Gregg and John Ensign.
Tuesday's vote to move onto the bill was 64-35, four votes more than was needed to keep the legislation alive. But if five Republicans are lost as a result of the amendment, then it's bye-bye bill.
Amnesty ping!
I wouldn’t put it past these clowns to leak to the press to make it look dead in order to squelch the massive amounts of calls. There are people like Kyle would take solace in a reduction in angry callers.
This article is a must read. It looks like the Bill will be Killed!
I think all these morons were postponing the inevitable. Now that Cheney is lined up, they will kill this and go after him.
If it isn’t one thing it is another.
Let's hope so.
I want to see existing law enforced.
Any word on Brownback, Ensign, Pryor, or Webb?
I think these four will make the difference either way.
I don’t believe individual senators who say they’re switching would be trying to fool us at this point.
Baloney, this bill is being pushed and shoved by forces beyond the public knowledge. Be they One World, American Union, American debt buyers, bankers, corporation or good old socialists. I believe they’ll try every trick in the book to get this done. Until then keep your eyes wide open.
It’s a good pic, thanks for posting it for our “enjoyment”
LOL. That image is perfect.
I’m sure that all of Voinovich’s phones have been taken off the hook.
ROTF!
LOL!!
The perfidy of the forces pushing this bill knows no bounds. They have to get 60 votes, however, and this article provides evidence that things are tipping our way. The loss of the Clay Pigeon appears key.
Awesome pic, infidel! Did you do that? It rocks, wish I’d seen it a week ago to send to the latest McCain fundraising letter I got.
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