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.
I hope you're right about the general reaction.
What is your ideal, (with the qualification of being somewhat reasonable) solution?
Yeah, it's so "stupid" it's drawn almost 900 responses. Time to wake up to reality, pal.
Why must all our guest workers come from one area of the world? Isn't that bigotry & racism?
I expect you and Hildy and the Good Doctor to make the trip. It's kinda important to me to finally meet you, and I know you and he both know what I mean.
I know and I will lay the pressure on him at the right time.
Bush: "I'm against vigilantes in the United States of America," Bush said. "I'm for enforcing the law in a rational way."
Who's said anything about "one area" other than you?
If he has his reasons, I defer to his decision. But Dearest and I owe a debt of gratitude to you both, and we would be honored to meet y'all.
God love Hildy, but she's not much of a date for you, right? ;O)
It all depends what "is, "is".
LOL--- we'll find our own --- maybe your frat bros? LOL.
Sorry, you can wish it all you want, it's just not going to happen. Even if it did, it'd be a logistic nightmare to deport 1/2 million, let alone 12 million, and our gov can't handle that. Those illegals are here to stay. Best we can hope to get is border security. I'm going to get creamed, but, secure the borders, no more free rides. Let those here be here, at least we can monitor them, get taxes, etc. No way can we send them all home. Not under our current system that's enforced. And our current laws won't be enforced until we elect people who uphold the constitution. Enough of these stupid libs pretending to be conservatives. It's a pipe dream to think otherwise. And it's our fault. We elected these people. that's what a republic is. So, we have to start at our state and local level to fix the issues. Can't put all the blame on one guy, it's not Bush's fault, we elected the bozo's who won't enforce the laws.
Yeah, that's the quote. That was a disappointing implication.
You're wrong.
Why don't you find a tracscript of what the reporter asked.
"I don't know why Bush is so stubborn on this issue. "
My wife does not know why I am so stubborn about always buying cars that I never drive. But she, like us, knew what we getting into.
Our President is a simple, head strong man. He has his ideals. Some we wanted, some we hoped he didn't want too much. Well guess what, he does. So now it's like that son that spent too much time wearing his mom's high heels. We have to deal with Bush prancing around in a very undesired fashion.
Time to stock up on blank disks for the video camera . . . hell, maybe it's time to stock up on video cameraas! That's a hilarious suggestion.
Interesting.
I await the fuller quote.
You brought up bigotry out of the blue.
So all these guest workers will be properly distributed from all ethnic areas of the world, with each race represented equally?
Yeah, right. We are fast becoming a bicultural nation, from the looks of it.
I'm tired of talking to kids who are likely not out of high school yet, from the sound of your inane statements. You can't even follow your own thought pattern. Going to bed.
The ruling class apparently has an aversion to their oath.
They can't even defend the Preamble let alone the whole damn thing!
Of course rounding up all of the illegals is not practical nor politically acceptable.
My ideal would be to stop the bleeding first by punishing employers of illegals with prison time - a fine won't do it.
I think a wall would be a good step, but again, I don't think it is politically feasible unless the national security benefits are pointed out.
Once the bleeding is stopped, then I am not opposed to a "limited" guest worker program. The guest worker should be on the same playing field as an american worker, however, in regards to taxes and mandated employer expenses such as health care, workers comp, etc.
It is doubtful that the mexican worker would be such a bargain if the playing field was truly even.
I don't think it is fair that virtually all of our immigrants have to come from Mexico. We should have a quota for each country.
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