Posted on 05/11/2006 11:27:54 AM PDT by Sharks
Senate leaders say they have reached a deal to revive a broad immigration bill that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens. The agreement doesn't involve provisions of the law, but it does end, for now, a lingering political standoff.
The agreement brokered by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., breaks a political stalemate that has lingered for weeks.
Key to the agreement is who will be negotiating a compromise with the House and its tough enforcement-only bill.
The House passed much more strict immigration legislation in December. It would subject the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States to felony charges as well as deportation.
Republican leader Bill Frist says the Senate will send 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats to the other side of the Capitol to negotiate a compromise. Seven of the Democrats will be hand-picked by Democratic leader Harry Reid.
Frist said a "considerable" number of amendments would be debated when the Senate begins debating the bill early next week.
Reid acknowledged on the Senate floor Thursday morning that he "didn't get everything that I wanted" in the agreement, but said Frist didn't either. Reaching the agreement is "not easy with the political atmosphere," Reid said.
Reid had been taking some criticism for refusing to move forward on the bill after complaining that Republicans were trying to undermine it with amendments and insisting that Democrats be allowed to have a say in who serves on the conference committee.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs4denver.com ...
This is a keeper bump. I especially like the missing backbone satire.
"Bush could close the border today without waiting for Congress by declaring a border emergency and deploying troops. The passage of an immigration bill shouldn't be a precondition for closing the border."
Perhaps, but we know he's not going to do that.
I think Congress will, because I think Republicans want to keep Congress, and know they won't if they don't agree to a real fence.
The key is to make them enforce the laws already on the books and seal the border not to allow them to absolve themselves of responsbility for what's happened by just making more laws.
Anything else is an excercise in futility and destined to fail.
I hope you are correct, but I fear it will be a bait-and-switch like the thousands of new BP agents that were approved, but never funded or the current employer fines that are rarely invoked.
I'll believe it when the Feds are stretching the chain link and pouring the concrete, not gassing about "virtual fences" and unmanned drone enforcement without actually doing it.
I remember 1986 and the new law where I, as a native-born American citizen, had to bring my birth certificate to work to prove that I wasn't here illegally. I was fuming mad. Did the law do any good? NO!!! Today we are overrun with millions of illegals.
We need to throw a bunch of politicians out of office and a bunch of aliens out of the country!
The fact that Reid has capitulated to allow a vote on a Senate bill along with debate on extensive amendment indicates that he is feeling political pressure. Meanwhile, Frist's statements have emphasized the need for border security and enforcement.
It is entirely possible that the Senate will pass a bill which includes a guest worker program. But it is likely that it will be cut out in conference.
Bottom line: this could turn out to be a good thing folks.
Of course it is just another issue. They are running the government FCOL and this is not the most important issue on their plate nor should it be. It wasn't the most important issue in 1994, nor in 2000, nor in 1986, nor in 1993, nor in 2002 or anytime over the last 30 years. It's not the most important issue now either. It is certainly not as important as the Supreme Court being taken over by Ginsbergs.
They should address the problem but they should take their time and do it right. Nothing will happen this year but a bill if we're lucky.
"I hope you are correct, but I fear it will be a bait-and-switch like the thousands of new BP agents that were approved, but never funded or the current employer fines that are rarely invoked.
I'll believe it when the Feds are stretching the chain link and pouring the concrete, not gassing about "virtual fences" and unmanned drone enforcement without actually doing it."
It's a legitimate fear, and the BorderBots are right to be skeptical.
Again, they need to keep their powder dry. If they get a law proclaiming a fence, that's reason to send in a campaign contribution, but to still condition assisting campaigns and voting on the money being appropriated and the fence starting to be built pronto.
IIRC, the governors of the border states have authority to deploy the national guards of their states to patrol the borders. The POTUS does not have legal or constitutional authority to deploy regulars without authorization.
Just breaking the deadlock that Americans refuse to break.
I do hope you are right.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less
Because the GOP Senate does not work for u and other concerned grassroots. They work for GOP Big Business and Vecente Fox
It had better not get any Oklahoma votes in favor. I'm pretty sure Coburn would vote Nay, and I'm almost as sure Inhofe would vote Nay. But who can know for certain until the voting is done.
The article includes: "The agreement doesn't involve provisions of the law,"
And you say "Remember: the KEY to the whole thing is getting the border closed. And that's almost certainly to come out of this bill."
What it really means is that they came out with an amnesty program with no consideration at all for enforcement. This is a sham, and apparently it is working. Notice Reid and Frist avoiding the word amnesty, and that enforcement is not discussed, other than some observation technology on the border (= pork).
They have all the necessary laws NOW for border enforcement. They don't use them. What makes you think that they will enforce a bunch of new laws?
Better start learning Spanish so you can gain favor with your future masters.
I think that's a pretty good theory. And I also think at some point our current crop of Washington politicians will have to make a decision between the monied interests who give them campaign cash and the interests of the voters who put them into office. So far, they haven't had to make that choice, and that is largely how we got to where we are today.
Right now we encourage illegal immigration and discourage legal immigration.
I'd like to see us reverse that 180 degrees, but least amnesty would be honest.
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