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.

[Petronski]

It was an inference . You're an adult (I assume) and you should know the difference.

Whatever you say Sherlock.

[bybybill]

I`m really confused, all the REAL AMERICANS that have been sounding like fools here seem to believe that the courts are going to look the other way while "good" illegals, who have established homes, built business, educated their kids, and saw some of them die for this country should be tossed out of the country.
Not going to happen. Lets support the President and , at least, stop more of them. Build the wall, make them register, force them to jump through several hoops and pay their taxes, and dump on, with reason, those employers that break the law.

[onyx]

The truth is simple?
Who knew?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Oh! That was quick. I didn't even see you get up to go wrassle up grub!

[Serenissima Venezia]

Look how voter backlash affected the port deal.

You are more than welcome to go out in the streets and act like a kindergartener, like these mobs are. I don't think anyone watching them is getting a favorable impression of illegals. But feel free to sink to their level.

[JeffAtlanta]

Not going to happen. Lets support the President and , at least, stop more of them. Build the wall, make them register, force them to jump through several hoops and pay their taxes, and dump on, with reason, those employers that break the law.

You think that the president is in favor of building a wall?

[Petronski]

I don't know you well enough yet, but I'm betting you're an idiot. Who knows though, the night is young.

[Petronski]

Yes, auntie---okay, I mean cousin. The truth is simple. Perhaps even binary.


How's the Good Doctor?

[Dolphy]

Look at how ineffective the antiwar demonstrations were in 2003 and 2004. In the days of Walter Cronkite, demonstrations had a lot of sway but not so much anymore.

Off the top of my head I would guess Walter had pretty much a monopoly on the news...in 2003 and 2004 people had plenty of outlets to help them form their opinions. On this issue though, I'm not sure how many people were really paying attention until they saw those demonstrations. How sympathetic people will be is another question though, particularly in areas that aren't seeing their local resources exhausted by serving this community.

[Serenissima Venezia]

Lets support the President

Sorry, can't do it. I'll consider it the day he apologizes for calling the minutemen vigilantes.

[OKIEDOC]

I agree with both of you.

The screaming mobs did one thing for me and several of my fence sitting friends, it woke them up to the coming violence from extremists emboldened by left wing politicians and RHINO Republicans.

Yes there were a lot of people on the street as there should have been for such a heated topic.

Those 500,000 in LA are under the gun and may soon have their illegal citizenship carpet yanked from underneath their law breaking butts.

So I would think getting this legislation killed was a huge priority on their taco.

These illegals who were supposed to be doing jobs that Americans will not do evidently had some free time with which to carry the mother country flag of Mexico and scream Spanish obscenities against their white and black brothers.

[JeffAtlanta]

I don't know you well enough yet, but I'm betting you're an idiot. Who knows though, the night is young.

Get a clue, seriously. I have answered many times in this thread that I am not (A) staying home, (B) voting democrat or (C) voting third party.

Could you please explain to me why your alter ego keeps asking that same question over and over again?

[moehoward]

"The republican senators can prevent all of this by acting like conservatives."


Yes they can.

I have been pounding this issue for years, and now it's go time. I wish I was more optimistic. After the port deal, I thought the momentum was on the Americans side. Now I think it was a step forward to appease the premeditated step back.

[onyx]

Gardening all day and going to sleep early.
I got an invite to somethin' last week.
The wonderful day (your event of a lifetime) is quickly approaching! I'm so thrilled.

[Petronski]

Could you please explain to me why your alter ego keeps asking that same question over and over again?

I'm not licensed to conduct remedial training in Georgia.

Have you tried flash cards or maybe a tutor?

[FreeReign]

You can hear him say, I've outlawed the United States. Sovereignty ends in 5 minutes. Know what I mean? :|

That is, of course, a bald-faced lie.

You don't miss a trick do yah.

[bybybill]

You forgot the last part of terrible Tom`s statement,
"MONEY, I need your MONEY, I will never stop this fight,JUST SEND MONEY, THey are going to take your money when I WANT YOUR MONEY"

[onyx]

LOL! Too funny.

[JeffAtlanta]

Off the top of my head I would guess Walter had pretty much a monopoly on the news...in 2003 and 2004 people had plenty of outlets to help them form their opinions.

100% correct. If Walter was still around and had a monopoly on the news, we would have lost the war in Iraq in 3 months due to domestic backlash and Bush would have lost by 20 points.

On this issue though, I'm not sure how many people were really paying attention until they saw those demonstrations. How sympathetic people will be is another question though, particularly in areas that aren't seeing their local resources exhausted by serving this community.

I don't think they garnered any sympathy. If anyting, I think it scared a lot of soccer moms. Unfortunately, Bush and the Republican Senate are doing everything they can to cast the illegals as sympathetic figures.

[Petronski]

I understand Sweetness has told you all about Paris, yes? I'm desperately plowing through my Capretz Method "French in Action."

I've heard the best revenge is living well. ;O)

I hope you both will be there. Okay, I demand it, but let's not get all German about this...