Posted on 04/05/2006 4:20:11 PM PDT by Libloather
Senate Stuck on Quarrels Over Immigration
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
25 minutes ago
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, pray in Los Angeles Wednesday, April 5, 2006, with Cardinal Roger Mahony, who was delivering a special Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to offer prayers for legislators who are debating immigration legislation this week. (AP Photo/Ricardo DeAratanha/Pool)
WASHINGTON - The Senate swung between compromise and gridlock Wednesday on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades, the future of an estimated 11 million illegal aliens at the mercy of unpredictable election-year maneuvering.
Key senators haggled over a proposed deal to confer legal status on a large majority of the 11 million men, women and children, but compromise remained elusive. "We've got a ways to go," said Sen. Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M. after one bargaining session in the Capitol, although he added that the talks were "moving in the right direction."
But with Democrats adamantly refusing to allow votes on politically charged amendments, Majority Leader Bill Frist sounded a pessimistic note hours later on the Senate floor. Barring a dramatic change, said the Tennessee Republican, "The course we're on is to leave here in a few days having accomplished nothing for the American people."
Democrats seemed untroubled by the prospect.
They set up a test vote for Thursday on legislation that cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee more than a week ago with a bipartisan majority before it ran into Republican resistance on the floor.
"This is a vote that for millions of Americans is a question about whose side you're on," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, adding that unless legislation clears the Senate this week, it may be doomed for the year.
But it appeared destined to gain far fewer than the 60 votes needed to advance, and perhaps less than a majority that would give political bragging rights to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
The bill would strengthen border security, regulate the flow of future foreign workers and open the way to citizenship for many immigrants who are in the country illegally.
With the floor vote looming, several officials said the compromise under discussion would allow longer-term illegals to seek citizenship after meeting several conditions, including the payment of fines and any taxes they owed. Immigrants in the United States illegally for less than five years but more than two would be required to travel to a border point of entry before they could re-enter as legal temporary workers. It was not clear whether they would have to physically leave the United States as part of the process.
Immigrants in the country less than two years, an estimated 2 million people, would be "in a little bit of limbo," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., not entitled to automatically return to the country if they made their presence known to authorities.
Officials said the talks had bogged down on the fate of the more than 3.5 million immigrants in the country between two and five years. Many Democrats and much of organized labor oppose temporary guest worker programs, arguing that they condemn individuals to a second-class existence subject to exploitation by their employers. And while those in the group would be given legal status, it was not clear how long they would be required to remain in a temporary status before they could receive so-called "green cards."
Under a scenario that had been under discussion, the government would grant 390,000 green cards a year. But critics pointed out that could leave some individuals in a temporary status for as long as 10 years, and only then be eligible to begin a six-year process of gaining citizenship.
Supporters countered that anyone covered by the proposed compromise had been living in the United States illegally, and would benefit from gaining legal status, even as temporary workers.
If the issue was hard to resolve, the politics were intense as both parties struggled with internal divisions.
Among the Democrats, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and others were actively involved in the compromise talks. But Reid and others told associates they were less interested in an agreement.
Sentiment was divided among Republicans, as well.
"I think we will soon be at the point where he (Frist) has to pull the bill and ask the Judiciary Committee to have intensive hearings and call a bill back up in some weeks or months," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., an outspoken critic of the legislation.
"Rather than throwing in the towel, I's say that this is gut check time. The next twelve hours will be critical. Perservere."
Thanks for the intelligent reply.
I am sure that you can tell that many of us conservatives in GW's base are very frustated with the direction that the GOP is going.
Mexico is a crap-hole.
An economically stratified, racially segregated, endemically corrupt, crime-ridden, polluted, undemocratic, stagnant cesspool.
The people who fled are trying to expiate their guilt-and atone for their sin of having abandoned their native country-by proclaiming their allegiance to their homeland in the most ostentatious, over the top, aggressive, ridiculous-and hypocritical-manner possible.
Don't forget ...all culture is relative and if that fails blame the racist Oligarchs.
I assume you heard....per Fox News, the senate "reached a deal" on immigration bill.
The only reason they are allowed to prosper is because they are exploiting United States taxpayers.
They just mentioned it on John Gambling.
The wave will now become a tsunami.
That's just lovely.
And I guarantee you that the impact will be worse than anything we've seen on Aceh or Sri Lanka.
I did not realize it had a larger GDP than Brasil
NumbersUSA e-mail just came through...
However, Brazil actually invests in infrastructure and a social safety net.
Health care, education, public works, etc...
Mexico does none of that.
It exports its poor and downtrodden North, and lives off of the remittances sent back by exiles.
That's why it has such a decadent, wealthy class, which lives in splendor and opulence even as the vast majority toil in poverty.
"Let's just be nice."
"We can't do anything at this point but give them all citizenship and a government check."
"Otherwise, the Democrats will think we are mean."
"And we wouldn't want that."
;)
Cloture will fail. K/Mc is on the ash heap. Hagel/Martinez is next up. Bear in mind that whatever gets through the Senate will go to conference with the House.
Was he always this stupid, or is that the stroke speaking?
That's a good point, and maybe it would make them learn English. I think it would slow the number of immigrants invading our shores. Another poster has shown concern for arming these individuals, and I agree. I think that supply, general building and grounds maintenance, kitchen and services, these people need not be armed. Is it really workable? (Love your byline!)
I think that supply, general building and grounds maintenance, kitchen and services, these people need not be armed.
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