Posted on 03/16/2006 1:51:16 PM PST by VU4G10
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure to produce broad immigration reform legislation by the end of the month, a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday neared agreement on a proposal that would give some of the 12 million illegal aliens living in the country an opportunity to earn citizenship.
Although no vote will be held until after a weeklong congressional recess, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday appeared ready to back a proposal by panel member Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, who has worked on the issue with his Republican colleague John McCain of Arizona.
The panel, which is working on comprehensive immigration and border security legislation, will also consider a related proposal that would allow foreigners to enter the United States as legal guest workers and then have a chance to earn permanent status.
Republicans are divided over immigration policy, and the Judiciary Committee plan is likely to spark a firestorm from conservatives who oppose regularizing the status of illegal immigrants, saying they would be rewarded after breaking U.S. immigration law.
But backers cite both economic and security reasons. They say that providing a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship will avoid creating a permanent underclass of workers and help bring illegals aliens out of the shadows.
Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who opposes giving permanent status to illegals, said after the meeting that the panel would probably vote for the Kennedy plan.
"The votes are there," Grassley said.
NO AMNESTY
Kennedy told the committee the proposal was not an amnesty. People seeking legal status would have to pay a $2,000 fine, apply for a six-year temporary status, have a job, pay taxes, learn English and show an understanding of U.S. government.
They would not get permanent status faster than the three million foreigners awaiting legal entry, he said.
"There is no moving to the front of the line, there is no free ticket," Kennedy said. "This is not amnesty."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, quipped that the requirements "probably exclude half of my family."
The panel also reached tentative agreement on a guest worker program sought by President George W. Bush has said he wants. A compromise struck between Kennedy and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, would give future temporary workers an opportunity to seek permanent status after four years.
U.S. business groups favor creating a temporary worker program to help fill jobs that Americans either cannot or will not do. Both business and labor groups also favor giving current undocumented workers a way to legalize their status.
Committee members said details would be worked out during the recess.
The panel is working against a deadline set by Majority Leader Bill Frist. The Tennessee Republican, and possible contender in the 2008 presidential race, wants the Senate to take up a bill addressing only enforcement and border security. He threatened to do that on March 27 if the Judiciary Committee failed to reach agreement on comprehensive legislation.
Whether Congress will finalize immigration legislation before the November congressional elections is unclear. Both Democrats and Republicans are likely to use the issue to gain advantage.
The House of Representatives has voted for tough border security and enforcement legislation with no guest worker program. The two sides would have to work out their differences before a bill could be sent to Bush for his signature.
First step is to cut off the inflow. That's why we need to concentrate on enforcement first. Pushing for amnesty now is putting the cart before the horse (and I think the pushers know it).
If my Senators vote for this, they will never get another vote from me, ever.
Exactly. Whatever it takes.
People on both sides confuse Corporate Socialists with Capitalists. Big difference.
1. Demand that the military be used to close the borders!
2. Demand the enforcement of ALL immigration laws!
3. Require immediate deportation of ALL illegal entries and visa overstays in our custody.
4. Require ALL employers to use the Social Security
5. Verification System for ALL hires.
6. Deny ALL illegal alien births 'automatic citizenship.'
7. Deny ALL illegal aliens a FREE K-12 education.
8. Deny ALL illegal aliens ANY and ALL 'public benefits.'
9. Deny ALL illegal aliens driver's licenses and in-state college tuition.
10. Deny ALL illegal aliens FREE emergency medical care.
11. Verify ALL voter's citizenship, before permission to vote.
Pretty simple really. We don't even need a wall. If all those things were done they would self deport and quit coming.
A road to citizenship? Gasp. The horrors of that. /sarc
I think your Oklahoma Senators are safe without your vote.
If the Republicans vote this thing in, they will lose the majority. That's my opinion, anyway.
yes we are leaving Calif. next year....Hawaii. They are liberal there but I guess the illegals can't swim that far. ;)
I am assuming from another post that you are from Oklahoma? I think we can count on Dr. Coburn to be against this, we may have to work on Inhofe. And I think most Oklahoma's feel the same way we do, so yes, our votes, could affect them.
To whom? To the democrats who will vote almost unanimously for it?
"Pushing for amnesty now is putting the cart before the horse (and I think the pushers know it)."
>>>>>>>..........................
waiting for the $2000 federal Loan programs to assist the illegals in paying the registration fee..
waiting for the grandfather clause that allows all immediate family members to be add ons without having to apply themselves.
If this does not make the American public raise up ..we are lost, time to move on.
Exactly! They all know that none of these illegals will actually pack up and leave in six years. This arrangement is wrapped in such dishonesty it's incredible.
BS...If you have to explain that it isn't amnesty then it must have such convoluted language that it appears to be amnesty. Or it is amnesty. How hard is it to say, "we will close the borders to illegals, we will enforce it, you will be stopped" to illegals?
We can agree that everything on you list is the solution, which it is, but getting all "politicians" to agree on all 11 of your points, Republican, Rats, Conservative, Liberals, Communist, Socialist, etc..., will not happen in our lifetime so there has to be a point one, seal the borders and then step 2, step 3, etc...
Some "leadership."
Quickest way for fools to let the democRATS to get the whitehouse back in 2008.
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