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.
You don't hear too many "Trust Me" arguments on this one!
The same place the huge crowds of Americas protesting FOR the Iraq war were - working on a job.
In 2003 the crowds protesting the AGAINST the Iraq war were overwhelming yet they were soundly defeated in the 2004 elections.
Oh for God's sake! Is it possible to be any more melodramatic???
I was on the fence before if I would've gotten polled, but still would've given him a good approval just to tweak the libs. Now fugget about it. I wonder if he would even get 30%?
Yeah, he could fly it upside down or, God forbid, burn it
He's worse than Clinton, hey?
Outrageous!!!!
We are allowing CRIMINALS to dictate policy in this country!
Yup--I've been polled by two majors in the past year and approved. If I was called tonight, I'd try to send the only message I can.
I think GWB just became a lame duck--only it wasn't foisted on him. He was a willing duck grabbing for willing lameness.
Sell outs, traitors, big business, big labor, Muslims, Mexicans, WOW, you guys have got it all to nite. Lota secret smiling going on here tonite
Guess what. He almost lost the primary to a true conservative, Pat Toomey. But Bush campaigned hard for him and he won by 2 or 3%.
Well.. dog I just heard him say as much on my very TV..
Should I give him a pass?.. shine it on as some Rovian synergy?..
Them days are about over.. I don't trust the little RINO..
And NO I wouldn't vote for McLaim if the Anti-Christ was running against him.. and her name was not Hillary..
There I said again.. actually I re-iterated what HE said..
Bloviating about immigrants has no effect on me anymore..
The last thing America needs is multi millions of psuedo democrats, proto type democrats.. enliving the democrat party.. And the enablers that let it happen are criminals, ALSO..
sadly ... yes
Here is what is at stake.
NumbersUSA analysis finds that the minimum number of permanent immigrants that would be allowed over the next 10 years under the three main proposals would be:
20 million under Sen. Frist's bill (S. 2454)
25 million under the McCain/Kennedy bill (S. 1033)
30 million under the Specter proposal (no bill number)
The McCain/Kennedy bill will certainly add even more than that because it allows at least 400,000 foreign "guest" workers each year. And after four years of work here, they would be allowed to get permanent green cards. But we decided not to make all the many guesses involved with that one when figuring out the overall 10-year effect. But it would be reasonable to estimate that the McCain/Kennedy numbers could go as high as 30 million.
If Congress becomes stalemated and passes no legislation, past recklessness by Congress will still result in another 10 million foreign workers and dependents permanently settling over the next decade.
H.R. 4437 which the House passed overwhelmingly on a bi-partisan vote in December would reduce that to 9.5 million over the next decade.
Breathe into a paper bag. You're hyperventilating!!
At times like this it is obvious (even I never knew it) why I kept my dual citizenship... in case, over 30 years later, the US I came to embrace as my own, started changing like this...
And of all people to lead the charge: the same politicos that swear to uphold the constitution.
It is unbelievable, and to my knowledge, this is the only country in the world where this absurdity doesn't just "happen" but it is promoted and allowed by those that should be upholding the principles that once made this land great!
Yup, the Second Ammendement got there for a reason, those folks were thinking and had vision (something we don't see anymore).
A sad day indeed.
Heck, I wish this were true. We jumped over the brink a few years ago, seems to me. Who knows, maybe we can scramble back up to the brink -- I hate to be defeatist.
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