"All USA are belong to us!"
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.
I certainly hope you are joking.
I am suddenly smelling ozone from the impending ZOT.......
That was last night. You must have missed your Stormfront meeting tonight. Gettin' too old to remember what day it is, huh?
Yep, just reported on Fox news, and of course no politicians read this site or their staffers,either. Nor Rush or Tony Snow or any of the myriad of the conservative establishment.
Spurs dont work on elephants.
DHS management has been stuck in it's own excrement since it's birth.
Can you smell the impending zot? :)
at this point - if the House can stop the Senate bill (which will have the administration's backing), and what we get is the status quo - no bill - I'll be happy.
we have two national elections coming up in the next 2.5 years, let this issue be taken to the voters to determine the future direction.
All illegals should be relocated to Hyannis Port prior to deportation....
"Can you smell the impending zot? :)"
I love the smell of zot in the morning. Good morning America!
Ocenview, I can appreciate your desire for no bill, but in the next two years we will have another 2 and 1/2 million more illegals.
We have a crisis on our hands now. Leadership is needed now.
I would prefer that limp wristed Frist put up an ENFORCEMENT BILL in the Senate NOW... and lets see who votes against it. But of course thats why there has not been a enforcement bill first in the senate. Who would vote against it, besides democrats.
98% of the country heard the scum on May Day demanding the USA be turned into a third world shit hole like the places they came from!
I guess he doesnt read FR. Pity.
"I would prefer that limp wristed Frist put up an ENFORCEMENT BILL in the Senate NOW... and lets see who votes against it. But of course thats why there has not been a enforcement bill first in the senate. Who would vote against it, besides democrats."
That would be a very good idea, politically and policy-wise.
We'd get something closer to the House plan on the record.
Here's my order of preference:
1. enforcement only bill
2. no bill
3. amnesty bill
Wow, Drudge's readership is that low? It was on the very top of his front page after all.
Hell all Bush is doing is using your plan for legalizing drugs. Just make them legal and and we reap the tax benefits. You should be on board with that.
I think my phone has been bugged! ;o)
They aren't enforcing the existing laws. What makes anyone think they will enforce any new laws, especially any that are more restrictive?
The whole thing is a sham, as nothing will really change, except millions more will be rushing to get in for the next amnesty.
Almost everyone posting to this article needs to think through a few things:
President Bush has been an outstanding President with
proven excellent judgement. Suddenly he doesn't know
what he is doing? Think Gore, Kerry, Hillary.
Congressmen have to be elected every two years and have
to pander to their base back home. Their campaign
positions are not always an indicator of what is best
or what they really think.
We are not going to round up 12 million people and
put them in jail or bus them to the border.
What is needed is to strengthen border security with a wall and any and all other measures which work to prevent the current lawlessness at the border. Next, deal with those aliens who are already here. Deport all criminals, normalize the rest. Normalization means a path to citizenship but only after assimilation. Kids born here will assimilate in time just like all other immigrant groups throughout history. A voucher program for parents to be able to choose the best educational option for their kids would also be a great idea. Too many public schools are no longer functional and change is needed.
Yeah, everyone except a couple hundred million citizens. Of course, they don't matter though.
Harriet Miers? Campaign finance reform?
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