In this photo provided by CBS, Sen. Feinstein, D-Calif., appears on CBS's 'Face the Nation' in Washington Sunday, May 21, 2006. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
Posted on 05/23/2006 9:00:02 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected a California Democrat's plan to allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country to remain, work and eventually become Americans, preserving a fragile bipartisan coalition needed to pass the bill.
Several lawmakers who voted against the proposal offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record) on Tuesday said they did so reluctantly, but out of necessity to ensure survival of the broader immigration bill. The legislation is expected to win Senate passage Wednesday or Thursday.
"This legislation is on the edge of the ledge as it is," said Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record) of Pennsylvania, one of the Republicans supporting a delicate compromise that has kept the bill alive — letting two-thirds of illegal immigrants stay but making the other third leave.
Feinstein's amendment, defeated 61 to 37, would have supplanted the compromise that allows illegal immigrants here five years or more to stay and work six years and seek legal residency after paying back taxes and fines and showing they were learning English.
Those in the country two to five years under the compromise would have to go to a point of entry, exit and file an application to return as a guest worker. Those here less than two years must leave the country, but could apply from their native country to return as a guest worker and wait in line to get a visa.
"I have come to believe that the three-tiered system is unworkable, that it would create a bureaucratic nightmare and it would lead to substantial fraud," Feinstein said Tuesday.
Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record), D-Iowa, said the compromise bill could mean losing Latinos in his state who have helped revive some of its small towns by buying homes and starting small businesses.
Feinstein offered the plan just before Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist set the stage for a preliminary vote Wednesday that could quickly bring the bill to a final vote. The bill appears headed for passage.
A bigger fight on the bill is still to come — when the House and Senate meet to negotiate a compromise bill. The House passed an enforcement-only bill that makes illegal immigrants felons, cracks down on hiring of illegal immigrants and steps up border security. It offers no path to citizenship or a guest worker program, which critics say is amnesty.
"If we are lucky, the House of Representatives will say it's got to be better," Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala., said of the Senate bill after predicting Monday it would pass.
Feinstein's proposal faced an uphill climb. Republican Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record) of Texas said it suffered the same "infirmities" as the bipartisan bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which offered citizenship for all illegal immigrants.
Feinstein's proposal required all illegal immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security, get fingerprinted and go through criminal and national security background checks.
They would get an "orange card" encrypted with identifying information and signifying they are legal workers after passing the background checks, demonstrating an understanding of English, U.S. history and government and paying back taxes and a $2,000 fine to apply.
They would go to the back of the line and could apply for legal permanent residency when a number they are given is reached.
Also Monday, the Senate showed support for President Bush's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the border by endorsing an amendment authorizing governors to order their state's Guard units to perform duties in border states.
In this photo provided by CBS, Sen. Feinstein, D-Calif., appears on CBS's 'Face the Nation' in Washington Sunday, May 21, 2006. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record), D-Iowa, said the compromise bill could mean losing Latinos in his state who have helped revive some of its small towns by buying homes and starting small businesses.
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I wonder how legal residents of Iowa feel about this comment?
ping
DiFi's answer.....the current bill is unworkable (correct), so let's just amnesty anyone and everyone.
The names I want to call her would get me banned.
This is exactly why we will never be able to get the illegal immigrants to leave. The minute they were able to get businesses and homes we lost.
I think in this there has been all kinds of laws broken, but our country don't care about laws anymore.
letting two-thirds of illegal immigrants stay but making the other third leave.
The bill is a bad bill - period.
Frankenfeinstein just made it worse.
I still believe the country cares about following the rule of law, it is our elected legislators who are more interested in getting more Latino votes than the good of the country who are the problem. TERM LIMITS TERM LIMITS TERM LIMITS
Push it off for good. Enforce the laws we have!
Time for a 'diverse card'? Maybe someone can photochop that crayon box and put it in DiFi's hands. ;-)
The American people are furious and outraged over the negligence and asininity of their Congressmen--and this cuts across all party lines!
The House Republicans are going to be re-elected. Re-election of RINOs and Democrats is in jeopardy.
Even hard-core Democrats know that the Democrat Party is encouraging open borders and illegal immigration, overtly or covertly, because they expect it to enlarge their base support, and the Democrat base support is concerned about illegal immigration. Even hard-core Leftists are outraged!
Senators who betray the public trust will also find their supporters prepared to replace them as soon as their re-election comes up.
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS:
Thus said Mark Levin last night.
The legal provisions are in the Simpson-Mazzoli Bill enacted under Reagan.
Our politicians in Washington just checked in their testacles, spine and guts before heading to office.
Makes you wonder how they move, eat and procreate.
They haven't worked all that great in California that I can see.
Sacramento is still an insane mess.
Right On
Orange card as in orange revolution.
nice try dieane.
Great! Thanks! :)
She left out the punchline: "So I have decided to propose something worse"
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