Posted on 05/11/2006 8:15:29 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - After months of partisan maneuvering, Senate passage of sweeping immigration legislation is virtually assured by Memorial Day. But that scarcely ends the struggle in Congress, given the vast differences between President Bush and House Republicans over the fate of millions of illegal immigrants.
The substance of the Senate bill is unlikely to change significantly from the measure that was stuck in gridlock more than a month ago. It includes additional border security, a new guest worker program and provisions opening the way to eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.
What changed was that after weeks of exchanging insults, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., agreed on a procedural compromise that gives the bill's critics ample opportunity to offer amendments. It also offers assurances to Democrats that Senate negotiators will not simply capitulate to demands of House conservatives in talks on compromise legislation later in the year.
However briefly, nearly everyone seemed pleased.
"We congratulate the Senate on reaching agreement and we look forward to passage of a bill prior to Memorial Day," said Dana Perino, deputy White House press secretary. Reid and Frist exchanged compliments on the Senate floor. Mexico's foreign secretary said in a statement that the deal was a "positive step toward the approval of a migration accord."
Everyone but House Republicans, many of whom criticize the Senate's bill as an amnesty measure. And possibly House Democrats, who, ironically enough, seem to share the White House view of the political implications of immigration. They are eager to campaign against Republicans responsible for last year's bill to make all illegal immigrants subject to felony charges.
Looking ahead, the White House is searching for ways to assure conservatives that Bush understands their concerns. White House strategist Karl Rove met with lawmakers earlier in the week, and at least one session included a discussion about making greater use of National Guard troops to shore up border security.
"Nobody is suggesting that we put troops on the border," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (news, bio, voting record), R-Tenn., who attended the session. "We are suggesting there are plenty of resources in the government" to increase border security, at least in an interim period while provisions in the pending legislation take hold, he said.
"The National Guard can in some cases help do that," he added. Other lawmakers said they expected Bush to announce border security improvements next week, possibly in a speech in Arizona or another border states.
The differences between Bush and House Republicans flared dramatically when the Senate appeared on the verge of agreement on a comprehensive bill several weeks ago. Several GOP conservatives denounced the bill as an amnesty measure and Rep. Steve King (news, bio, voting record) of Iowa said anyone who voted for it should be "branded with a scarlet letter A."
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., offered his view of the importance of immigrant labor: "I say let the prisoners pick the fruits."
In political terms, Rep. J.D. Hayworth (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona and others said Republicans would pay a price in the midterm elections if they vote for anything like the Senate legislation. "Many of those who have stood for the Republican Party for the last decade are not only angry. They will be absent in November," Hayworth said.
Given Bush's recent erosion of support among conservatives, as measured in polls, there's been no evident change in sentiment among his congressional critics.
The political calculations are different at the White House. Hispanics comprise the nation's fastest growing minority, according to this line of reasoning, and no political party can afford to be seen as blind or even hostile to their concerns and the desire of their relatives to join them in the United States.
Bush and top House Republicans reviewed the issue last week at a private White House meeting, according to several officials, and the president urged the GOP congressional leadership to embrace his call for comprehensive legislation. That means provisions to strengthen border security, coupled with a guest worker program that — while the president doesn't say so in public — provides a chance at citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. and other leaders stressed that would be a hard sell with their rank and file. Bush restated his desire for a comprehensive bill, and the leadership responded by noting the sentiment of the rank and file, according to officials familiar with the conversation. They spoke on condition of anonymity, given the private nature of the meetings.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — David Espo is chief congressional correspondent for The Associated Press.
it was always up to the House to stop this, if it can be stopped that is.
I wonder if having the DHS caught spying on US citizens had anything to do with this?
I wonder if they read Free Republic. I hope so.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630581/posts?page=292#292
They didn't "spy." Besides, the only place that accused the DHS of spying was an obscure newspaper. 98% of the country never even heard that story.
You spammed TWO threads with red xs.
"There seems to be some reasonable breakthroughs in a fair and nonjudgemental immigration bill in the Senate. It will tolerant, open and fair policies for disenfranchised and oppressed minorities living in the United States.
Unfortunately, a bunch of racist, sexist, homophobic partisan conservative hacks in the House will probably try to kill this bill. Fortunately 2006 is an election year and (with luck) the voters will let their voices be heard by making the unbiased, non partisan Nancy Pelosi speaker this fall."
It should be interesting to watch the next couple of weeks. Especially on the Dem side of the House. I still think that Bush can peel off some Dem votes to get something through
if this passes - all the "carrots" will go into effect immediately, the security measures will never see effective implementation. 12 million will get amnesty, and the signal will be sent to millions more - "if you can get here, you can stay". the american southwest won't be recognizable in 20 years.
Bump
The new third party will asuridly be centered on immigration. Too bad, this will give us more dem and pube no border control.
Those who are pleased at the end will be the most pleased.
I think it will not be the "everyone" referred to above.
But it will be such a finely worded piece of treason.
How could we object? Pass me some koolaid so I can get behind this travesty.
Isn't there a la raza meeting tonight?
"Unfortunately, a bunch of racist, sexist, homophobic partisan conservative hacks in the House will probably try to kill this bill."
Oh, I hope you're right. Those racist, sexist, homophobic partisan conservative hacks are the only thing that stand between our country surviving as an intact nation with borders and illegal alien disaster. I love those guys. Hold the line. Man the barricades. You are our last gasp! Don't go wobbly, as Margaret Thatcher would say. Go hacks!
I love it when leftists howl in anger at conservatives.
I am starting to get a bit pessimistic, unfortunately. Every Republican who votes for this needs to be held accountable in the Fall, though.
Probably. But the hacks won't get it until a furious public targets them on election day.
The powers that be really don't want an immigration bill.
If so, the Senate would have voted for a tougher enforcement first like the house did. Instead the Senate wants an amnesty bill. As a result, nothing will be done.
They would rather do nothing and take their chances in November than to follow the wishes of the American public.
Howver, as election time nears don't be suprised when realizes what this has done to a portion of their base and starts throwing out a few bones to try to appease the dis-inchanted.
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