Posted on 04/06/2006 8:33:43 AM PDT by STARWISE
WASHINGTON - In a last stab at compromise, Senate Republicans and Democrats reported progress Thursday toward agreement on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. illegally.
"There's been tremendous progress overnight," said Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, the Democratic leader, while Majority Leader Bill Frist also expressed optimism that a long-sought compromise might be at hand.
There was no immediate reaction from President Bush, who has made immigration legislation a key priority.
The developments occurred after Frist unveiled a new bill late Wednesday night on the subject as the Senate headed into a test vote on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.
In general, the legislation would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants into the United States and settle the legal fate of the estimated 11 million men, women and children already in the country.
It was the fate of the illegal immigrant population that proved hardest to legislate, and it has left the Senate on the verge of gridlock for days.
(snip)
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as other key senators met before the vote to review terms of a proposed compromise.
In general, it would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.
Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I'm anxiously awaiting his reply to your eminently reasonable question.
Jesting...maybe. I am looking outside the box for a motive for this beyond stupid guest worker/amnesty crap that is unfolding before our eyes. These Senators and Congressmen are gambling that the GOP will vote for them regardless of their actions. This November they will be proven wrong.
Rush will change sides within the next week or so. The Whitehouse will strongly suggest that he reconsider and the next day he will come out with a "Bush is taking an issue away from Democrats" explanation.
"This is usually code for the Senate Republicans have either caved in again or we've all been betrayed by McCain."
You forgot another "Again." at the end of that sentence.
The Senate is near a deal. Whatever they pass will have to be reconciled with the House version.
There will be a lot of noise, but absolutely nothing will be passed before the election. And that's the entire point of these follies, not any kind of policy, but electioneering.
:)
"Do what I just started doing - Mail back a peso!"
I like that idea!
I truely believe you are a TROLL!!
You have the liberal thinking down!!
Congratulations!!
You don't have to win them all. It's ok to take one step back to take ten steps forward.
The current GOP is nothing but Democrat-Lite. They need to be replaced.
They think the GOP base will stew and vote for them anyway because Democrats are worse. Therefore why possibly alienate their business interests, which fund their campaigns, or risk being labeled a bigot.
That is the thinking. Remains to be seen if they are right about the GOP base.
IF the GOP was offering something to offset amnesty, maybe the thinking would be valid. But tax cuts being renewed is in limbo. ANWR canceled. Spending increases. Judges filibustered. Concessions to terrorists via McCain. Restrictions on free speech okay'd in the House just yesterday.
What are they offering the GOP base in return for taking the pill of amnesty? Nothing. nothing except "Dems are worse" and the "prez will be impeached". It's not good enough. Without an incentive TO vote FOR Reps, IMO, the GOP will be unpleasantly surprised in Nov.
I posted a detailed list of solutions a long time ago.
YOu simply chose to ignore them.
That's the governments job, protecting Americans from illegal invaders to the tune of over 11 Million. The people that need to listen is the leaders of our country, they need to listen to their citizens and then tell the illegals to listen up and heed our Laws. If not then DO something other than cave in to criminal demands. Arguing that it can't be done is pure defeatist.
If we can hope to change the hearts and minds of millions of Iraqis that they can be a democratic nation after living under oppression and dictatorships since time memorial, then we can hope to round up a substantial number of illegals and deport them.. we don't have to get them all.. and because we can't get them all that's no reason to quit.. just like we can't quit fighting terrorism.. we will never get them all but we can still win the war.
That's a theory but I'm not convinced. As long as they have sympathiser here, like the catholic church, they will have someone here to provide shelter and money. It's more than they will get in Mexico.
How would you locate an illegal? Apparently you seem to think that they are quite recognizable. Tell me. Unless you had some form of documentation, how would you profile an illegal alien without resorting to some kind of racial stereotype?
Hey Tex, it ain't just hispanics. It's Pakistanis, Indians, Russians, Irish, Albanians, Koreans, Chinese, Hatians, you name it. Which group is the problem depends on where you live. Illegal is illegal!
South American countries actually spend more than a pittance on their poor, and since over ninety percent of Mexico-the segment that isn't part of the wealthy elite that profits from our munificience-is poor, and the Mexican government doesn't want to take care of them we're forced to.
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