Immigration Bill Faces Senate Showdown

Breitbart ^ | Jun 27,2007 | JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS ap

[mdittmar]

The Senate's revived legislation to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants faces a critical test Thursday after surviving potentially fatal challenges.

Attempts from the right and left to alter key elements of the delicate bipartisan compromise failed Wednesday, including a Republican proposal to deny illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and Democratic bids to reunite legal immigrants with family members.

The Senate killed, by a 56-41 vote, an amendment by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., to provide more green cards for parents of U.S. citizens. By a 55-40 margin, it tabled a proposal by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., to give family members of citizens and legal permanent residents more credit toward green cards in a new merit- based points system.

A make-or-break procedural vote was set for Thursday, however, as the Senate plowed through amendments that supporters hoped would address waverers' concerns.

Facing determined opposition from conservatives who call the bill amnesty, leaders need 60 votes to keep the measure alive and complete it as early as Friday.

The Senate on Wednesday killed several proposals designed to answer conservatives' concerns that the bill, championed by President Bush, is overly lenient toward illegal immigrants. Among the amendments was one by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to require all adult illegal immigrants to return home temporarily to qualify for permanent lawful status. The current bill requires only heads of household seeking permanent legal residency to return home to apply for green cards.

"I don't see how I could support this bill in any form," Hutchison said after the vote. She had characterized her proposal as a way of removing "the amnesty tag" from the legislation.

An amendment by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., also defeated, would have restricted legal status applications to those who have been in the United States for four years. The bill would allow anyone in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2007, to be eligible.

A bid by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., to deny green cards to unlawful immigrants also failed.

The bill, which also would toughen border security and institute a new system for weeding out illegal immigrants from workplaces, is facing more challenges.

Particularly worrisome to backers of the bill is an amendment by Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Max Baucus, D- Mont., to overhaul the employee verification system.

Grasping for more GOP support, Republican framers of the bill were proposing their own, less burdensome return-home requirement for illegal immigrants. It would apply only to heads of household and would give them three years.

Votes on key amendments were continuing Wednesday under a complex and carefully orchestrated procedure designed to overcome stalling tactics by conservative foes. It allowed votes only on a limited list of amendments before Thursday's critical test vote.

Tensions ran high on the usually courtly Senate floor, where Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was keeping a tight rein on the debate to prevent critics from derailing the bill.

Conservatives, irate at a process that has essentially stymied their ability to filibuster, said Senate leaders were trying to rush through a bad bill.

"The American people have said loud and clear that this is an incredibly important issue to them. For the Senate to move ahead anyway using this process, railroading me and other critics of the bill and blocking our rights as senators to represent our constituents, is disgraceful," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

___

The bill is S 1639

[goldstategop]

They want amnesty come hell or high water. That's the top priority of the Washington elite, secure borders be damned.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[clintonh8r]

According to Major Garrett on FNC the bill is in serious trouble. We can hope...

[Baladas]

I see they passed to Menendez amendment that will keep “families together”. I guess that’s what happens when you trek 1500 miles in the desert to invade another country.

God help us all.

[clintonh8r]

Apparently Slimey Hairy tried to slip in 30 pages of “technical changes” and pissed off some GOPers who were leaning toward ending debate tomorrow. Brilliant strategery, Hairy!

[cajungirl]

I have been almost in shock watching this movement the last weeks.

What I keep wondering, seriously, is why is GWB and the Senate wanting to change the demographics of this country overnight? Why? Surely they know the result.

If there are 20 million illegals and they are immediately made legal and on a path to citizenship, and each brings in a wife and four children, the country will be half hispanic in the next ten years.

And people with no history of our way of government will overnight be electing every elected official we have. Without a knowledge of the civics, the history, the blood shed to have what we have, and with a distaste for us.

This is the most important issue ever voted on other than the Civil War. I cannot fathom the support, the lack of openess, the dealing, the manipulation.

Money alone doesn’t do this.

Why is GWB selling our country out?

[Asclepius]

Which is this now, the third or the fourth Senate showdown on this bill that will not die?

[caphillbabe]

Here is a list of the key staff contacts of the “Amnesty 8” Senators that are most likely to be persuaded to vote no on Thursday and derail amnesty. Many offices are putting calls straight to voicemail and they can just trash faxes (and letters take weeks to get through due to security). Hit Hill staff where they are so codependent - their Blackberries! Send email directly to staff - not just the generic Senate office mailbox. Contact their Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and Press Secretary. Make your voice heard!!

For the Democrats, I would strongly suggest taking a pro-union/anti-illegal alien stance (i.e. “they are taking our jobs”) rather than using the conservative national security angle.

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Chief of Staff
tim_becker@bennelson.senate.gov

Legislative Director
christiana_gallagher@bennelson.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
david_dimartino@bennelson.senate.gov

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Chief of Staff
bob_russell@pryor.senate.gov

Legislative Director
andy_york@pryor.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
michael_teague@pryor.senate.gov
lisa_ackerman@pryor.senate.gov

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)
Chief of Staff
paul_reagan@webb.senate.gov

Legislative Director
mike_sozan@webb.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
jessica_smith@webb.senate.gov

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO)
Chief of Staff
brian_klippenstein@bond.senate.gov

Legislative Director
kara_smith@bond.senate.gov

Communications Director
shana_marchio@bond.senate.gov

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Chief of Staff
glen_chambers@brownback.senate.gov

Domestic Policy Advisor
brian_robertson@brownback.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
john_rankin@brownback.senate.gov
brian_hart@brownback.senate.gov

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Chief of Staff
alicia_peterson-clark@burr.senate.gov
alicia_peterson-petersonclark@burr.senate.gov

Legislative Director
natasha_hickman@burr.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
laura_caudell@burr.senate.gov
mark_williams@burr.senate.gov

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Chief of Staff
jennifer_lowe@coleman.senate.gov

Deputy Chief of Staff
lucia_lebens@coleman.senate.gov

Legislative Director
lorianne_moss@coleman.senate.gov

Communications Director
tom_steward@coleman.senate.gov
tom_stewart@coleman.senate.gov

Press Secretary
leroy_coleman@coleman.senate.gov

Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Chief of Staff
john_lopez@ensign.senate.gov

Legislative Director
pam_thiessen@ensign.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
tory_mazzola@ensign.senate.gov
jack_finn@ensign.senate.gov
don_tatro@ensign.senate.gov

[LibertyRocks]

"The American people have said loud and clear that this is an incredibly important issue to them. For the Senate to move ahead anyway using this process, railroading me and other critics of the bill and blocking our rights as senators to represent our constituents, is disgraceful," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

It's not merely disgraceful, it truly is treason to bypass the rules of Congress in a direct attempt to pass legislation that is a threat to our country as this bill is. Somehow we need to get our media to open their eyes to the NAU and the real reasons behind this bill -- not simply stating that conservatives are against it, because many, many Democrat constituents are against this bill as well.

[LaineyDee]

Can’t have their NAU if this doesn’t go through.

[glorgau]

secure borders be damned.

It also show what a farce "the war on terror" is. I hate going through airports and being searched.

[horse_doc]

Why is GWB selling our country?

There are lots of theories, but they miss the simplest explanation. GWB had an illegal Mexican nanny that raised him. His family pulled strings, and got her citizenship.

He's doing this because he is sure that every illegal is like his nanna, and that we'll all live happily ever after.

He's a simple man - every other explanation gives him credit for being more complicated than he is.

[TheRobb7]

Cool tagline.

I’m sure there’s a back-story that you’ll let me in on....

[Diogenesis]

“China” Mitch McConnell thinks he'll tell us go to hell, vote for amnesty and keep his senate seat

"The following articles and brief summaries create a detailed history of China Mitch,
his wife Chao and their sordid relationships with corporate contributors and foreign governments
at the expense of America and its Citizens the people he was elected to serve but chose to betray."

[YellowRoseofTx]

"The American people have said loud and clear that this is an incredibly important issue to them. For the Senate to move ahead anyway using this process, railroading me and other critics of the bill and blocking our rights as senators to represent our constituents, is disgraceful," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La

I've been watching the "debate" on C-Span2 today and I heard this exchange. Every time Vitter opened his mouth, tried to object to something, etc....Reid cut him off and said he wasn't recognized. Finally Vitter was able to make this comment. Reid has been a tyrant in this all day.

[Squeako]

Nuking hippies at Woodstock.

[horse_doc]

I’m sure there’s a back-story that you’ll let me in on....

I just hate hippies.

One tactical nuke at Woodstock, in '69, would have nailed just about every one of the leaders of the Boomer Left, before they had a chance to screw up the America that I was SUPPOSED to grow up in.

It used to be a joke, a take-off on the "Visualize World Peace" bumper sticker that Lefty Boomers have. I don't laugh when I say it, anymore . . .

[Star Traveler]

Get rid of the bill and also get rid of those Senators for amnesty!

[Lokibob]

“Money alone doesn’t do this”

When you are talking about many billions (with a B) of $ going into big business’ pockets by using cheap labor, and they control the government, it explains a lot.

If you follow the money, you find out the real reasons for a lot of crap in Government.

[Star Traveler]

Selling (or “buying” votes), I guess...

[Shazolene]

Good contact list.
BTTT.

[cajungirl]

/That is as likely as anything I can think of.

None of this makes sense. You don’t sell your country for money or for anything. You sell a business, sell your wife, sell your car, give your life for another country in war but you don’t sell your country.

[Kuksool]

Amazing how Bush and the GOP Senate are willing to fight tooth and nail for Amnesty, but not for getting judges confirmed. The number of appeals court judges confirmed in Bush’s 2nd term is apalling.

[goldfinch]

Money alone doesn’t do this.

Why is GWB selling our country out?

I have been trying to figure this out for weeks. My current theory is that he is getting his political advice from Dr. Kevorkian.

[Cacique]

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

[bill1952]

Occam’s razor dictates that your inference is correct in that the aims of the thundering herd of liberal RINOS and the left of center Democrat “progressives” are indeed one and the same.

Also therefore, true conservative voters are to be ignored and true conservative officials are to be marginalized with the quick passage of this bill.

This removes a key plank in Fred Thompson’s platform thereby mooting the issue of immigration by making it established law before election time.

All of these tie neatly and simply up into one paragraph when you establish that the aims of these two formerly disparate groups are truly one and the same.

[CottonBall]

The American people have said loud and clear that this is an incredibly important issue to them. For the Senate to move ahead anyway using this process, railroading me and other critics of the bill and blocking our rights as senators to represent our constituents, is disgraceful," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

Good to know that at least one of the Senators knows that their job is to represent their constituents. Many seem to think they are there only to benefit themselves.

[CottonBall]

Why is GWB selling our country out?

There are several theories I've heard - none of which sufficiently explains his obsession to destroy the Republican party or the country, IMO.

One is to save Social Security - supposedly all these new legal workers would now be paying into the system. (This theory doesn't take into account that the low income workers pay in very little, but get more money back subsidized by higher income workers. So this bill actually have a detrimental effect.)

Another is to head off a revolution in Mexico, in which a communist or socialist government takes over. (This theory doesn't take into account that we will ruin our country while trying to 'save' theirs. Or that our country was founded with a revolution - they're not all bad.)

I think just plain greed by corporations for subsidized low wages and by politicians wanting to be on the board of directors of those corporations after they retire from politics makes more sense for why many Senators are for amnesty. As for Bush, I really think he might have some mental issues going on. Many rulers throughout history have gone mad at the end of their reign and done some insane things. (Some caused by the latter stages of syphilis...)

[expatpat]

According to the above article, Menendez’ amendment was NOT passsed.

[Recovering_Democrat]

FWIW, I called Kit Bond's office today...whoever answered his phone said they had already killed his amendment without debate, and that Bond was going to do "all he could" to kill the immigration bill.

I think he will not vote for cloture.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Lord, I hope so....

MOgirl

[popdonnelly]

I think the Menendez amendment failed.

[tobyhill]

Bonds and Hutchison were fence sitters on this issue but now it’s a guarantee they will vote to kill this bill and hopefully once it’s dead this time it will stay dead.

[unixfox]

I love my country but now I hate my government. I will NEVER vote for these people again.

[olde north church]

This bill is going to pass. Get used to it. It’s nothing more than political theatre choreographed to the picking up on the final pen stroke. Maybe that was President Bush’s plan the entire time. Amnesty is passed. Pissed-off RKBA and other patriots riot in the streets and CWII begins as REAL Americans recognize their coveted U.S. citizenship is nothing more than another tissue to use for post-bowel movement rectal hygiene.

[LasVegasMac]

Just a heads up for the Nevada folks, the email to "jack_finn@ensign.senate.gov" is getting kicked back.

No other kick backs to the rest of the list. :)

[Bush gal in LA]

‘’What I keep wondering, seriously, is why is GWB and the Senate wanting to change the demographics of this country overnight?’’,,,,,,,,,,,,In my opinion the President believes in his heart he is doing the most humane thing for the illegal aliens in this country. ,,,Reason number two is the President believes that if a Republican President passes this legislation the Republicans will get the immigrants vote. .....He is wrong on both hunches!

[Nuc1]

Go to www.spp.gov Read for a while and I think you will have your answer.

[mdittmar]

Piss-off,Oh sorry,I meant I can see you are Pissed-off.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Toll free to the US Senate:

1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)

Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!

[olde north church]

Piss-off,Oh sorry,I meant I can see you are Pissed-off.

You will see a remarkable thing on the cloture vote. For every Senator who was turned off by the "clay pigeon" tactic and place a no vote, others will have their own roads to Damascus and will vote yes.

You would prefer to be Pissed on? Didn't believe this place would attract that type!

[mdittmar]

Guess we will see tomorrow.

[G Larry]

FREE USE!

The “path to citizenship” is NOT the objection to the current immigration bill!
It is the immediate “legalization” without having first secured the border, provided for meaningful background checks, and subsequent issuance of tamperproof IDs.
It is that “probationary status” is renewable every four years.
It is lack of a system to manage the VISIT system, which would keep track of people who overstay their VISAs.
It is the tripling of chain migration, before closing the door in 2016.
There is no true incentive for illegal immigrants to get on the path to citizenship!
And finally, I object to the proponents of this bill pretending that I’m a racist, instead of addressing my true objections above.

[Old Sarge]

There was one other theory I read on another immigration thread - it’s scary enough to make sense...

Amnesty is just a way of getting 15-20 million voters lined up for Prescott Bush’s WH run.

[lawdog]

Now you are getting close to the truth.

[Zack Nguyen]

Conservatives, irate at a process that has essentially stymied their ability to filibuster...

Note that Democrats feel fully justified in stopping Republican filibusters whenever they want. Recall that Republicans threw their hands up in despair when presented with Democratic filibuster during the Great Judge Fiascos.

Now tell me how understands political power - Democrats or Republicans?

[lawdog]

Exactly, this last week has been very bad public theater for the royal subjects... I suspect the Bill will pass the Senate and some of the Senators will act shocked that their proposed amendments have been struck from the bill... This is a Bush/Kennedy Bill just like that No Child Left Behind crap that they F##@%^% the taxpayer with.

[mdittmar]

We shall see tomorrow, if either of these political parties understands political power

[nicmarlo]

Grasping for more GOP support, Republican framers of the bill were proposing their own, less burdensome return-home requirement for illegal immigrants. It would apply only to heads of household and would give them three years.

Yeah right...they can't even return for court dates after they've been released back into the general population, to where they shouldn't have been in the first place.

[Borax Queen]

return-home requirement for illegal immigrants. It would apply only to heads of household and would give them three years.

Does anyone want and need their (in general) enormous families milking the system while they are gone? As if it's not bad enough already??