Senate GOP votes down 'amnesty' bill

The Washington Times ^ | April 7, 2006 | Charles Hurt

[Sharks]

Senate Republicans killed an immigration bill yesterday that they said would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and then cast doubt on the fate of a new bill that would grant the same amnesty to a slightly smaller portion of illegals. "We've made huge progress," Majority Leader Bill Frist said of the new bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida, that would give a direct path to citizenship for workers who have resided illegally in the U.S. for five years or more. But by nightfall, hopes for a deal had dimmed considerably over Democrats' refusal to consider Republican amendments. "I believe there are some people who would rather have no bill," said Mr. Martinez, whose compromise bill had visibly thrilled Democrats earlier in the day. "We're looking like we're going to be able to dance," Minority Leader Harry Reid enthused in an impromptu morning press conference with Mr. Frist. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, and John McCain, Arizona Republican -- the co-authors of the bill that Republicans blocked yesterday -- pronounced the new compromise a victory and said in a joint statement that they are "proud" to join in support of it. But as the day wore on, staffers on Capitol Hill and lobbyists interested in the issue read through the 525 pages of legislation. By late last night, leaders on both sides of the aisle told reporters that they were highly doubtful that the Hagel-Martinez legislation would survive a vote scheduled for today. If the compromise does not garner enough votes to move forward, senators will have an opportunity to give conservatives what they've always wanted by voting on a border-security-only bill introduced last month by Mr. Frist. Unlike other Senate proposals, such a bill would meet little resistance

[reformedliberal]

Looks like Republican discipline, for a change and five DINOs who need to be reelected. This is a super majority of 60.

[stopem]

It is getting a little more encouraging and I am breathing a little easier at the moment.

[Jarhead1957]

if they wanted to do whats right for this country they would simply Enforce existing law.

You hit the nail on the head; Let the Border Patrol do its job. In the first year of the Clinton Administration the flow of Illegals had all but stopped. Then a Presidential letter restricted the Border Patrol from operating more than sixty miles from the border was signed by Clinton. They also stopped filing on the people who hired Illegals

Political contributions from contractors and people who wanted cheap labor had spoken.

They still operate under those orders.

Illegals do not stop in cotton fields or cabbage patches, why work for nothing, they head straight to well paying jobs in construction and with companies that will hire them. Think I'm wrong, tell me the last time you saw a raid on a job sites.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Chambliss (R-GA), Nay

[thoughtomator]

Doh! Scratch that then, I misread it through the blood.

[nicmarlo]

as the day wore on, staffers on Capitol Hill and lobbyists interested in the issue read through the 525 pages of legislation. By late last night, leaders on both sides of the aisle told reporters that they were highly doubtful that the Hagel-Martinez legislation would survive a vote scheduled for today. If the compromise does not garner enough votes to move forward, senators will have an opportunity to give conservatives what they've always wanted by voting on a border-security-only bill introduced last month by Mr. Frist.

ping

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

:) Thougt I was reading it wrong, myself and Nay meant Yey (you know how that goes) and was surprised about Chambliss.

Great big Whew!!!! holding hand over heart & wiping my brow.

[azhenfud]

At least our two Beloved Senators (R-NC) got the right message before casting their votes...

[LadyNavyVet]

Bill Nelson surprises me because he's a lib of the first order. I've been applying the heat to him; looks like plenty of my fellow Floridians have also. Martinez, on the other hand, is just an all 'round disappointment.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting

Is there a reason Rocky did not vote or was he absent? Anyone know?

[wardaddy]

I just got up...slept in.

WOW!

[wardaddy]

strike that...got woken up with incorrect news

[Old_Mil]

The candidate who does NOT support and is NOT a Transnationalist will get my vote! Anyone know of any such candidate for President???

Tom Tancredo

[RetiredArmy]

McCain voted NO??? I thought he was for the bill?

[nonliberal]

Mike Pence.

[GarySpFc]

Everyone interested in the illegal immigration issue should read Hidden Bombs By Kris Kobach, who was head of the immigration division under AG Ashcroft.

[GarySpFc]

Brownback voted against this nightmare. ::::clicking my heels::::

[dangus]

That's obviously not a vote on the Specter-McCain't-Kennedy, since Specter and McCain't voted against it. But just so you know, these are the party switchers:

American Democrats:
Byrd (WV)
Conrad (ND)
Dorgan (ND)
Nelson (FL)
Nelson (NE)

Openly "post-American" Republicans:
Bush (CoC)

[dangus]

Graham is MUCH more conservative than DeWhine, Voinovich, Hegel* or WarnerBros. MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH more conservative. The major moderate thing he has done is joined the Group of Seven... and that ploy did not fail (although maybe only because Bush refused to test it by nominating only "stare-decisis" judges).

[Terpfen]

Well, maybe all the emails I wrote had some effect (for a change)

No, they didn't. Congressional staffs automatically disregard emails. Phone calls will work, emails/letters/faxes will not.