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.
You're right. So much for your claim to practice it as you advocate gunning down unarmed people.
Wow, I never thought I'd see the day where that dolt would actually make an intelligent, truthful statement.
Sorry, Sink. I can't let you get away with this one. The Border Patrol is not the Stasi. I'd expect that "logic" from the libs. We have a right to keep people out.
Yep. But I'm not sure you are, if you're using that as an example in this case.
No, Juan Williams thought there would be a bill...and he's always wrong.
I was not referring to the Border Patrol.
I was referring to a poster on this thread who advocates shooting and killing illegals.
Meanwhile, the GOP will be able to hold this over the Dems in the campaign along with their criticism of the NSA programs, etc. I mean McCain/Kennedy would have allowed illegals convicted of violent crimes to get a temporary worker card. The Dems won't be able to make a silk purse out of that sow's ear.
Rather than throwing in the towel, I's say that this is gut check time. The next twelve hours will be critical. Perservere.
This is good. Watch them go off a political cliff. Maybe the GOP can gain seats this fall after all.
I get your point. My thought was that people that immigrated would certainly be more America oriented if they did go in the military, and ones that didn't would not even come here, thereby reducing their numbers. I would never advocate solving the current immigration crises by putting all of he 11 million currentilegals in the military, or you could certainly call me crazy...and thanks for not calling me a moron!
Typical liberal trick, twist words, I will add to my post, shoot to PROTECT ONESELF!
LOL! The Dickster actually slipped-up and admitted what the real issue is.
We have Vichy freepers. LOL!
OK. Sorry for the misinterpretation.
Go preach somewhere else and leave the job of saving America to those who can!
Keep calling and faxing your reps in protest of amnesty.
A proposal to allow non-citizensto vote in NYC is something you might want to consider protesting, too.
Stasi were secret police in Germany what does that have to do with protecting oneself and our Border? And again I will say PROVE all the illegal invaders are UNARMED!!
I didn't say I would shoot anyone I said that Border Patrol and armed guards should have the ability to shoot when attacked.
The Vichy were a puppet-regime of the invading force, Germany. The members of the Vichy accepted favors from the invaders to facilitate the rule of Germany over France. No different than an asshat politician or the RNC accepting promises of favors and donations to facilitate the invasion of their own country.
"Survivors will be prosecuted"?
>Stasi were secret police in Germany what does that have to do with protecting oneself and our Border?
It doesn't have anything at all to do with it anymore than does the KGB.
Facts apparently do not matter to some here, but I am willing to pay his travel expense to go to any number of countries and try to sneak into border countries.
Maybe he meant with paint guns filled with purple indelible ink with a one month useful life. I do believe Christ said to honor the government. If that is the law of the ppl.. then we are honored to abide it or suffer the legal penalty.. Some will only pick the Commands that are convenient. The USA is the prime actor in charity and protecting life throughout the World. Taking out the economy of the USA is tanamount to robbing the World of all the good works and many Christian Endevors we do. Maybe some of us should take the log out of our eyes and see more than our nose. God Bless..
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