Posted on 03/15/2006 1:44:52 PM PST by dennisw
Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist, frustrated by the sluggish debate over immigration reform at the committee level, plans to introduce a bill that deals solely with border security as early as today. Mr. Frist's bill, according to aides on both sides of the aisle, does not include a guest worker provision or a process for handling the 12 million illegal aliens already in the U.S., divisive topics that have stalled immigration legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would beef up security along the U.S.-Mexico border, provide funding for thousands more border patrol agents and build small sections of fencing in areas of key traffic. The Tennessee Republican, who is widely believed to be seeking the Republican nomination for president, had promised conservatives that he would bring up an enforcement-only bill and begin debate on the topic on the Senate floor by March 27.
Mr. Frist's bill, according to aides, would simply take Mr. Specter's proposal and strip out the guest worker plan and provisions dealing with illegal aliens already in the U.S. Mr. Specter's legislation has stalled in committee over his proposal to criminalize illegal aliens already here as well as other issues. His bill would allow employed illegal aliens to remain in the United States indefinitely, although it would require them to return home before applying for permanent citizenship. Mr. Frist will use the rarely employed "Rule 14" that permits him to introduce a bill and bypass the committee process so that it goes directly to the Senate calendar. After winding through several days of parliamentary procedures, Mr. Frist may call that bill to the floor for debate. During this morning´s Judiciary Committee meeting, Mr. Specter hinted that Mr. Frist would move ahead on his own if the committee didn't arrive at some consensus.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
ping
"Getting it" would be indicated by a call to enforce the existing laws.
Only thing Frist gets is that he wants to be President.
How will Allen vote on AMnesty?
Ping!
Hmmm...maybe the Senate Majority Leader does indeed get it.
Is this some kind of ruse? Pandering tokenism? If something is too good to be true, it usually isn't...
Frist could be a very good ally in this debate. I for one would be willing to vote for him in 2008 if he got tough on the issue and backed it up by passing a tough law this year.
Not a Frist fan, or anyone else at this time for that matter, but I'm willing to go with anyone who will address this and other serious matters.
Recent history shows that all that will do is shift the traffic elsewhere. Frist needs to beef up the bill to fence the entire border.
Same here. I curse the choice between John McCain and Hillary in 2008. I would vote for neither. I don't have a positive opinion of Bill Frist but if he makes a serious tilt to border enforcement then he's serious candidate for me.
Is Bill Frist thinking - "Why let the Democrats game this issue? Why let them steal it"?
I think this is a good idea even though it is pure political pandering. I think we need to deal with the security before we worry about a guest worker program. We need an efficient way to send illegals caught in the US back to Mexico. I also think we should also look at inserting a tracking device in all criminals including illegals.
"Is Bill Frist thinking - "Why let the Democrats game this issue? Why let them steal it"?"
I sure hope so. I wish our President would get the message as well.
No. This is a purely political stunt. And where are the demands and veto threats from the White House regarding immigration reform?
If Frist gets a bill through that strips guest workers' amnesty, one that builds a FENCE and not a turnstile, one that ceases the anchor baby epidemic, and one that handles felon employers of illegals severely, he'll find a nice donation from this reluctant donor.
So9
I've seen the ads for his new PAC everywhere on the Internet, highlighting this bill.
That being said, at least he's finally getting it, which is more than can be said for most of his colleagues.
Sounds like a plan to me.
I'll believe it when I see it, but this would be a great start.
The last action on the immigration reform issue should be to address a guest worker program. The VERY last.
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