Posted on 07/04/2006 7:38:49 PM PDT by nj26
On the eve of nationwide hearings that could determine the fate of his immigration bill, President Bush is signaling a new willingness to negotiate with House Republicans in an effort to revise stalled legislation before Election Day.
Republicans both inside and outside the White House say Mr. Bush, who has long insisted on comprehensive reform, is now open to a so-called enforcement-first approach that would put new border security programs in place before creating a guest worker program or path to citizenship for people living in the United States illegally.
"He thinks that this notion that you can have triggers is something we should take a close look at, and we are," said Candi Wolff, the White House director of legislative affairs, referring to the idea that guest worker and citizenship programs would be triggered when specific border security goals had been met, a process that could take two years.
The shift is significant because Mr. Bush has repeatedly said he favors legislation like the Senate's immigration bill, which establishes border security, guest worker and citizenship programs all at once. The enforcement-first approach puts Mr. Bush one step closer to the House, where Republicans are demanding an enforcement-only measure.
"The willingness to consider a phased-in situation, that's a pretty big concession from where they were at," said Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma, whose closeness to Mr. Bush dates to his days as a top Republican National Committee official. "It's a suggestion they are willing to negotiate."
In a sign of that willingness, the White House last week invited a leading conservative proponent of an enforcement-first bill, Representative Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana, to present his ideas to Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the Oval Office.
Ms. Wolff said the president found the Pence plan "pretty intriguing."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Also abandoning McCain's "path to citizenship":
"But one Republican close to the White House, granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, predicted that Mr. Bush would ultimately abandon the idea of a path to citizenship."
The White House knows they lost, and are shifting position to accomodate the will of the American citizens that will vote in November's election.
President Bush is signaling a new willingness to negotiate with House Republicans in an effort to revise stalled legislation before Election Day
Talk is cheap.
Until it happens, it is just cheap political talk, as usual from Washington. Nothing from Washington is of value, unless it actually happens, and for the better of the American citizen, our laws, our principles, our soverignty.
God,maybe the president has finally decided to pay attention to the people who voted for him.
Well, it's about time!!!! Thank you, God, for making him see the light.
I agree... but it's the best talk that we have heard in years from the Bush admin on immigration.
Ugh, I just realized this is from the NY Slimes. I won't believe a word of it until it's confirmed by a reputable news source.
Slimes = Slime
Mad Magazine has more adults on their payroll.
TT
Much as I would like to read the rest of this story ... I will not give the NYT a hit on its website. Wish others wouldn't either.
Bush will sign the Pence bill in a heartbeat.
1.....PHOTOGRAPH of the voter in the listings at the polling station
2...Presentation of PHOTO ID at the booth.
...If the dims like Mexico so much...stick it to them with this.
Nothing should "trigger" amnesty.
Less Talk More action please
And why not? In the end, he gets his shamnesty plan.
Typical Bush/Rover poker play.
No the before the Utah primary the House leadership was scared to death of Tancredo. When Cannon won they realized that Tancredo is a paper tiger. They are now ready to pass legislation and Pence has the best plan. Pence is now carrying the immigration issue flag.
(1) Secure the border and halt further illegal immigration and provide dependable protection for U.S. citizens living along the border--and their property andALL OF WHICH HE SHOULD ALREADY HAVE DONE !!! his approval would soar, his base support would would return with enthusiasm, and he would secure the November 2006 election.(2) Immediately instigate measures to nullify the Supreme Court's odious, nefarious, and utterly unjust eminent domain decision
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