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.
What does anyone think about requiring immigrants to perform 2 years of military service to gain citizenship?
Until the poster in question qualified her original post with "in self defense," her "shoot and kill illegals" was unconditional.
No Pope, or President Truman, shot and killed people for grins.
No you did not. Here is what you said in post 6:
Solution simple, armed forces with orders to shoot to kill on the southern border, deport all the illegal invaders, No amnesty, no worker program. Problem solved.
You have now qualified your original statement in a later post.
Bump.
Yes, because right now the law does not require employers to cross-check them against the relevent databases to verify their authenticity.
our only chance is a stronger House in November to send a message
if not that then we have to wait till 2008 for a REAL contender to force Bush's hand...unlikely...I am very angry with him over this but he is stubborn
meantime....maybe the RINOs will do nada and the illegals who wish to assimilate us will keep rattling sabers to help unite our side
Go out and Vote by Candidate, if a race has a lib and a RINO, just skip it. But make sure any Conservatives in your area don't get voted out, otherwise your problems will just get worse.
I could really care less whether the Dems retake the Senate right now, but if we lose the House amnesty is as good as done.
Unless you know beforehand that the Democrat you're voting for is opposed to open borders, e.g. Mike McIntyre, Gene Taylor, and a few others, then you should not vote for him/her under ANY circumstances.
Then will we have bi lingual Armed Forces,
No bill is better that this garbage they are thinking of enacting. The Democrats are in a no loose situation, except we will know who voted for amnesty, should it come to pass.
Maybe that would be a good idea, get everyone on record and let it die in the House.
I wouldn't vote for Democrats period
but what sucks is watching RINOS sell my culture down the river for votes they will never get ...and other reasons
I was just watching a celebrity freeper who need not be named begging his guests to explain Mexican nationalism amongst illegals on FOX
two cherry picked pro-illegals Hispanics
"please ..help me out here....help folks understand"
sickening
If the McKennedy treason doesn't pass it will give us a chance to do our best to decimate the rats and the rino's in upcoming elections. I have a feeling that there will be democrats voting with most republicans against the open-borders crowd this election.
Most are not qualified and most don't speak english.
Do you think it could be seen as a help to employers and implemented that way during a crackdown?
Right. For all practical purposes from now until November, the immigration reform debate is nothing but a bunch of politicians posturing for election season. Immigration reform won't happen this year.
Senator Frist is one of the worst Majority Leaders I have ever seen. To think that he is worried about he "Spring Break" in a few days than a vote that has split America is unbelieveable. He should have continued sessions until a vote is done. I can't believe that some people on this site are really going to vote for him as President. Can you imagine if he is President with a Democratic Congress. He can't get anything done with a Republican Majority it would be a fun house if he was President with the dems.
What does anyone think about requiring immigrants to perform 2 years of military service to gain citizenship?
No thanks. How am I supposed to lead someone who can't speak English? Good thought though. I think your intentions were good, but I just think it would be impossible.
"Go out and Vote by Candidate, if a race has a lib and a RINO, just skip it. But make sure any Conservatives in your area don't get voted out, otherwise your problems will just get worse."
Thank you for your common sense reply.
Why is it when a conservative posts an opinion on FR, the Bushies attack with a vengence? What ever happened to reasoned discussion on FR?
I have been a member of FR since 2001 under this moniker, and for two years prior under the name Roccos. This year, I cannot not believe the way that this forum has become with the Republican thought police on the watch for anyone showing signs of leaving the reservation.
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