Posted on 03/27/2006 4:08:50 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved election-year immigration legislation Monday that clears the way for millions of undocumented workers to seek U.S. citizenship without having to first leave the country.
After days of street demonstrations that stretched from California to the gounds of the U.S. Capitol, the committee also voted to strip out proposed criminal penalties for residents found to be in this country illegally.
The panel's vote cleared the way for the full Senate to begin debate Tuesday on the emotional immigration issue.
"All Americans wanted fairness and they got it this evening," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), the Massachusetts Democrat who played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation, approved 12-6.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., voted for the bill but signaled that some of the provisions could well be changed by the full Senate.
In general, the bill is designed to strengtehn border patrol, create new opportunities for so-called guest workers and determine the legal future of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
At several critical popints, committee Democrats were united while Republicans splintered. In general, GOP Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Mike DeWine of Ohio, who is seeking re-election this fall, sided with Democrats.
That gave Democrats a majority that allowed them to shape the bill to their liking.
Please explain how this a "fair" for all American, Mr Orca.
They're not citizens, but they will likely be awarded the vote at some point if we set the precedent of allowing them guest-worker status. At that point they can vote in whatever kind of leftist phooey they want.
"Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., and other conservatives said anything but a requirement for illegal immigrants to return home amounted to amnesty, and he said he had national opinion on his side.
"Well over 60 percent of Americans in all the polls I see think it's OK to have temporary workers, but you do not have to make them citizens," said Kyl, who is seeking re-election this fall. ,/I>
For you all that live in AZ you are lucky to have a Senator like Kyl (and Hayworth,) we are lucky to Have Cornyn. I would suggest to vote this man back into office, I would if I were in AZ.
Did the amnesty in 1986 stop illegal immigration?
Do you think this one will?
Goldstategop, you must be able to recognize that these amnesties do nothing more than encourage tens of millions more Mexican citizens to flood our borders. Is that really what you want? I don't think it is, but that will be the undeniable outcome if we grant a guest worker/amnesty program.
BTTT
We've been sold out (again).
I quit. I return their envelopes with notes saying when something is done about illegal immigration, give me a call; till then the checkbook is closed.
Keep this in mind when voting in Nov.
That must be the case since we need to import workers to fill all these jobs right? Get the pen out an cut all those federal programs out of the budget since they are no longer needed.
This is the biggest problem the GOP has--grassroots members who constantly see everything as RATS or Republicans.
This is conservatism versus statism--national sovereignty versus abandoning national sovereignty. The crucial issues today are party neutral, and the list of anti-American Republicans is as large as it has ever been in history.
Remember that only one US President has ever actually granted an amnesty to illegal aliens. That President was Ronald Wilson Reagan when he signed into law The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
I can't wait for 2008 to watch Lindsee get stomped but good in the primary!
Sorry for the soapbox.
South Carolina Ping
Add me to the list. / Remove me from the list.
Call them as well. I'm doing the same and add they should just pass the bucket at the next Illegal Immigration March and see how much they'll get from them!
sw
Did you catch Kyl taking on the drunken one? It was a valiant effort! The drunk called him "the senator from KY" and said he [Kyl] was lying/misrepresenting Kenn's position.
This is the snot-brained bastard who destroyed the nation's cultural integrity with his treasonous open door immigration bill forty years ago. And the craven Republican whores, led by the cancer-laced brain of snarlin' arlen, have now decided to let him kill us off as a nation, finishing the job, once and for all. Thanks GOP Senators, you diseased mongrel filth.
"Then where are the huge crowds of Americans protesting illegal immigration?"
They vote. They write their congressman.
"Let's face it, we do need these people, our economy would ground to a halt in their absence and its time to make them Americans."
No we don't. The economy wouldn't grind to a halt. They're here to depress wages, a short term profit increasing strategy for certain industries.
I do believe some stoop agricultural labor are jobs "Americans won't do" or due to their seasonality. I support controlled guest labor there.
The reconquista element is maybe louder than its strength, but it is there.
Nope, just illegal ones. Up to your standard traitorous tricks I see, Dane.
You'll be happy to know you helped kill 2 people last month. But, hey, who cares about closed hospitals if Dane's liberal, open borders, mind can sleep better at night knowing he has helped the lower classes with everyone's BUT his wallet.
Memo to President Bush, Senator McCain, Senator DeWine, et al:
With regards to a guest worker (amnesty) program:
Not just NO, but HELL NO!
JMO, your true feelings about hispanic workers is "arbeit macht frei".
Since your traitor lobby wants to create a permanent serf/slave labor population, 'arbeit macht frei' describes your position perfectly.
I've been ticked at Frist ever since he rolled over and let Specter take the helm of Judiciary; this goes a long way towards vindicating him -- IF he sticks to his guns this time.
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