Senate Panel Approves Immigration Bill

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/27/06 | David Espo - ap

[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.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The House version was not at all just "face-saving half-hearted measures".

It will be at the end of the day.

[Mo1]

big time

[Indy Pendance]

Oh, look, it's raining.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The law as it stands is that YES, you can only be 'reclassified' if you entered here legally.

The issue facing Congress this week isn't about legal immigration.

[JeffAtlanta]

Anyone who would blindly vote for a Democrat out of spite, instead of focusing attention on a reasonable and sound Republican is no true or principled conservative, let alone Republican.

I don't think you are grasping the larger point. Blindly voting for Republican because "at least they aren't democrats" just gives us Democrat-Lite which in the end is just as bad.

The big picture is that by punishing politicians that campaign as conservatives but then govern as Democrats will actually stop the problem. Your approach of being a party man rather than one that cares about ideology just multiplies and encourages the problem.

We need to start over as the current crop of Republicans really aren't conservatives.

[freedumb2003]

You are a waste of resources.

[BigSkyFreeper]

They're coming out of the closet today, doncha know?

I can spot them three threads away.

:)

[onyx]

Just sitting here watching the "fashion" show...lol.

[abner]

Right on!

[onyx]

Today, you should be able to spot them 10 threads away.

[freedumb2003]

Oh and learn to respect your elders, newbie.

[JeffAtlanta]

It will be at the end of the day.

No it wasn't. The House actually tried to do something. It might not get passed but they weren't half-hearted or face-saving.

[DoughtyOne]

Wasn't Gorby a former KGB operative? That's pretty much par for the course in Russia. I agree with your comments regarding Clinton, and in some ways I agree that things haven't improved much. Thanks for the comments.

[BigSkyFreeper]

You and Congress don't seem to grasp the concept that illegal immigration shouldn't be a partisan issue.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I have one concern that keeps me from getting hysterical over illegals and that is National Security.

People fool themselves around here about how important the issue of illegals is to the American people. And they fool themselves about how easy it is to get across the border and how difficult it is to stop it. Dozens of cities refuse to cooperate with Immigration authorities. Churches aid them.

If you expect anything to catch the eye of Congress you will have to show it demonstrations with comparible numbers to these which just took place. I don't think it is going to happen.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, I may have to stand corrected.

[aureliusk]

I'm beginning to think both side of the isle are useless panderers.We're ALL being sold down the river .

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Abner.

[batter]

This says it all:
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.

What at bunch of BS. Hatch and Bennett will be hearing from me tomorrow.
Senate "Republicans" are pathetic. Time to clean house!