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.
As long as Americans get their socialism they don't seem to mind others getting it also. If we end the taxpayer subsidies altogether we will both be very happy. Buchananites always ignore the beneficial aspects of illegal immigration and that is why they can't stop it. We have 4.8% unemployment and the labor market is getting tighter with every aborted baby. Even if we could completely seal the Mexican border, it would not solve the labor vacuum that causes illegal immigration. Increasing legal immigration will do more to solve the problem than border security.
and I didn't even touch on the fact that more and more illegals are committing very heinous crimes against Americans.
I believe the fact that many workers in this country are considered criminals by there very existence, within our borders, contributes to their callous attitude toward our laws. I think a program that identifies them may reduce crime just in the act of documenting their existence, and at least free up resources to go after undocumented immigrants.
What "anti-immigration movement" are you referring to here? Certainly nothing I was talking about.
[So you can conclude from that datum either a) that Bush and Kerry are the two most popular politicians in America, or b) that the two parties really do not serve the interests of the people. Assuming the latter (which I think would be the conclusion of most rational people)]
You assume too much. Including that your views are rational.
So you're going with a)? You really think that Bush and Kerry are the two most popular politicians in the country?
Wow.
Which we could, quite handily
it would not solve the labor vacuum that causes illegal immigration. Increasing legal immigration will do more to solve the problem than border security.
Fine, we can talk about doing that once we've secured the border, which wouldn't be hard to do at all. But legalizing illegals here without making them go back first is out of the question.
Yes.
Actually I can talk about it now since I believe labor demand is the root cause of illegal immigration. When you guy win a Senate seat or Gov office we can talk about expelling 20 million people. Till then your just a Tancredo lackey and Tancredo's star is fading.
Kerry has fallen off the map.
And here I thought there was some hope for you. Apparently not.
Thank you for another hysterical run-on sentence.
I don't care.
This is most distressing. I have been praying for your approval, and now it is not forthcoming. I guess I will have to look for approval from normal people now.
Yes.
Then you're not in much of a position to be condemning anyone else's assessment of the situation as irrational.
Here's the short version.......being a useful idiot is no way to go through life.
Who said anything about expelling 20 million people?
Till then your just a Tancredo lackey and Tancredo's star is fading.
As you desperately hope. Nice to see that's all you have, though.
He always loses the argument. Especially the one about being a loyal American conservative. He failed to make the cut.
I haven't seen any valid argument from you to show Bush and Kerry are not the 2 most popular politicians in the country, or even one example of a more popular politician. But then I didn't really expect evidence that would support your opinion.
I expect no more from you.
being a useful idiot is no way to go through life.
I thought you might have stumbled upon a nugget of self awareness until I saw the word "useful."
I assumed since you want to seal the border, expelling the illegals currently here was the next step. No? OK, I'll retract my statement.
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