Frist Sees 'Progress' on Senate Overhaul Bill (Immigration)

LAT ^ | May 3, 2006 | Nicole Gaouette

[FairOpinion]

While denying that Monday's massive demonstrations put pressure on Congress, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) voiced new optimism Tuesday about ending the stalemate on legislation to overhaul the immigration system. He predicted the Senate would approve a bill by the end of May.

In another sign of movement on the politically charged issue, Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), leading advocates of tougher enforcement, floated a proposal to give some illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status — if the opportunity were limited to those who had married, had children or otherwise put down "deep roots" in the United States.

The Senate bill would bolster enforcement, add a guest worker program for incoming foreigners and allow undocumented immigrants who met certain criteria to work toward citizenship. Senate negotiations stalled in early April, when Republicans — who are divided on the issue — proposed more than 300 amendments and Democrats accused them of using amendments to filibuster the measure.

In the current negotiations, Frist and Reid are focusing on the amendments issue, but underlying that is the larger question of whether a majority of Senate Republicans will stand behind a bill that includes both stronger enforcement and procedures for giving eventual legal status to most of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country illegally.

Democrats also continue to demand guarantees that only lawmakers firmly committed to the Senate bill be named to the committee that will negotiate a final bill with the House. Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said that was essential to protecting the bill from Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), the main author of the enforcement-only bill passed by the House.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Frist has wheedled on this too long while trying to satisfy both the constituents demanding rule of law and his corrupt fellow Senators in thrall to their illegal-exploiting contributors. As this issue is coming to a head far faster than he wanted (he expected to be out of there by postponements until his term expired), I frankly expect he'll have a breakdown or worse.

If you're reading this, Bill; know that only career politicians believe that they can con everyone all the time. Statesmen, on the other hand, "man up" and prepare for the storm when hard decisions need to be made. It's not like anyone's going to snub you at the Belle Meade Country Club - you're a world-respected cardiac surgeon and scion of an HMO legacy. If you do the right thing on this the unsterilized masses might even believe you really are Presidential material. It's just what you need and should do.

If you cave to the lobbies your political career is over.

[taxesareforever]

What a joke. This Congress accomplish something? Not a chance.

[Lancey Howard]

In another sign of movement on the politically charged issue, Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), leading advocates of tougher enforcement, floated a proposal to give some illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status — if the opportunity were limited to those who had married, had children or otherwise put down "deep roots" in the United States.

So, if you robbed a bank twenty years ago and used the stolen money to buy a house, raise a family - - you're cool. No problem.

[AZRepublican]

Notice Frist said nothing about seeing progress in the House LOL

[11th_VA]

Here's some progress Frist. Herndon, Va threw out heir PRO-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAYOR AND COUNCIL LAST NIGHT. And how did those town folks vote in 2005?:

Herndon is full of Blue Dog demos. Here's the Election data from 2005:

.............J W Kilgore(R)........T M Kaine(D)

Herndon #1...... 40.2%.................57.5%

Herndon #2...... 37.3%.................60.4%

Herndon #3...... 38.3%.................60.0%

Those Pubbies better wake up and smell the coffee !

[EternalVigilance]

So, if you robbed a bank twenty years ago and used the stolen money to buy a house, raise a family - - you're cool. No problem.

Hey, man. As long as your 'roots are deep'. That's all we care about...

[EternalVigilance]

...— if the opportunity were limited to those who had married, had children or otherwise put down "deep roots" in the United States.

Hmmm...where I come from we call plants growing where they don't belong "WEEDS", and we pull 'em!

[Havoc]

Looks like they're just stalling for better ways to try and cop out on why they wouldn't stand behind the law and do what's right. Mercy is one thing. I have no problem with mercy. I and much of the rest of us have quite a huge problem with these bought and paid for suits pandering to their wallets and the wallets of their business buddies instead of doing what's right for the country. They're so blinded by green that they can't see red, white and blue. That isn't an accusation, it is an indictment of the establishment politician. And it's time for all of them to go. It's time for real down home American patriots to do the job up there. They always want to tell us about their expertise up there. The only thing that seems to get us is an expert screwing. WTO, NAFTA, UN, immigration, offshoring, Visa abuse, union busting, ... they just keep turning the heat up on the american frog in the pan one degree at a time. Seems to me the frog is due for payback..
Time to switch places.

[OKIEDOC]

I agree, just a bunch of sell outs.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Well said, Havoc. They don't seem to understand words anymore unless they're basted with butter and served with a side order of money.

DamonSt: I've been hammering on my politicians weekly (weakly?) through the fine services of NumbersUSA and FAIR consisistantly for over two years now. They have reported back that their support has grown exponentially with their/OUR influence on targetted legislation. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We have actually made many legislators vote on the side of law and order when they were strongly coerced to do otherwise.

Some would wonder why they'd do otherwise but don't know of the gaming and threats that happen on the Hill with so much power at stake. Right now those who garner so much profit from utilizing illegal aliens seem to have the loudest voice, but I have to ask why they do? If their employees are illegals how do they contribute to our nation when they're paid under the table (tax cheats), send roughly 20% of their incomes out of our country never to be circulated here again, depend on the safety net put in place for our worst-off for their common maladies, game our educational institutions and still retain loyalty and the social customs of the countries that saw them as expendable refuse?

The only answer is that using illegals for profiteering trumps patriotism, citizenship and regard for the profiteers' own descendents. These people don't need to be listened to when they spin their endlessly creative justifications for betrayal - they just need to treated the same as those they regard as mere cogs for their personal gain.

[Racer1]

This most likely will get delayed somehow until the elections are over. They wouldn't want to sell out before suckering people into voting for them again.

[panthermom]

If we give one inch on this immigration thing we are doomed. Remember after 9/11 Bin Laden saying we were a paper tiger and weak. Well, we all know that the terrorist watch every move that we make in this country. They see our goverment can be intimidated by a bunch of ILLEGAL ALIENS protesting in the streets demanding rights. If thats not weak I don't know what is. Caving into this nonsense just emboldens all that want to do us harm.

[DustyMoment]

Frist . . . progress . . . . Senate . . . . immigration . . . overhaul

Translation: Another sellout by our elected linguini spines is in the works with new language that makes it sound tough, but no new changes. They want the votes of the illegals and will sellout their country to get it.





(I would have mentioned selling out their integrity, but they have none to sell and I didn't want to discredit my own post!)

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Whatever conditions placed upon illegals to gain legal status, they will simply lie, fabricate documents and break the law to meet those conditions. Remember, these trespassers are breaking the law by their very presence and more laws will not deter them.

Law breakers will remain law breakers if there is no consequence for their behavior. They will simply conclude there will be no serious enforcement of the new laws either. They will be right.

[mo]

Coupling this bill with the FairTax would be a no-brainer....we then capture their spending here, and remove one reason they come-untaxed revenue!

[joe fonebone]

"Democrats also continue to demand "
Wait just a cotton pickin minute.........I thought the democrats were in the minority...Why are they in a position to DEMAND anything???????? The word spineless comes to mind.

[taxed2death]

".......allow undocumented immigrants who met certain criteria to work toward citizenship."

Amnesty = rewarding criminal behavior.

[conservativecorner]

If he sees progress, it's for the illegal immigrants and not our Constitution or existing laws.