A motion to take up Frist's bill is already on the floor, in the form of a cloture motion to take up his bill for debate. He filed both, the bill and the cloture motion, the Thursday before Congress took their recess.
The process today is just a mad attempt to get something through by the end of the day. Specter is pushing hard to get this to the floor.
It's an exercise in face-saving for the Judicairy Committee, and in particular, its chairman.
The Senate version will go to conference. The House will not approve of anything that gives amnesty.
Yup. Plenty of debate to come. This is a very preliminary round.
This was really a pissin' match between Frist and Specter. Specter was desperate to get a committee bill on the floor. This is not even the first round.