Posted on 05/25/2006 2:46:41 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Legislation offering millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship moved to the brink of Senate passage Thursday, a rare reach across party lines and a triumph for President Bush.
Majority Leader Bill Frist called for swift talks with the House, which has passed its own version, in what loomed as an arduous search for compromise.
Underscoring bipartisan support in the Senate, Frist, R-Tenn., and Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced in advance they would support the measure. It was months in the drafting and narrowly survived several brushes with disaster across more than a week of debate.
The legislation calls for stronger border security, a new guest worker program and most controversially provisions giving many of the illegal immigrants in the country an eventual chance to become citizens. Another provision would establish a new system to verify the legal status of workers, and punish employers who knowingly hire illegal laborers.
Conservatives attacked the bill to the end after trying unsuccessfully to pick it apart with amendments.
"This bill will not secure our borders," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala., one of the most persistent critics.
"This is amnesty," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who tried last week to strip out provisions relating to citizenship.
Together, Sessions and Vitter echoed the views of numerous House Republicans, many of whom have vigorously denounced the Senate bill as well as Bush's call for a "comprehensive approach" to the issue.
That portended difficult compromise talks in the shadow of midterm elections, at a time when Bush's poll ratings are low, congressional Republicans are concerned and Democrats are increasingly optimistic about their chances at the polls.
For now, supporters of the Senate bill said they intended to savor their victory. Peppered with questions about the compromise talks ahead, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said, "I'm going to celebrate here."
The House bill, which passed on a largely party-line vote last year, is generally limited to border enforcement. It would make all illegal immigrants subject to felony charges and it contains no provision for either a new temporary worker program or citizenship for men, women and children in the country unlawfully.
Frist said compromise talks should begin swiftly.
"I think it is important on this issue with millions of people coming across our borders illegally, not knowing who they are, where they are going or why they are coming," he said.
In contrast to the House measure, the Senate bill would mark the most far-reaching changes in immigration law in two decades. Built on compromise after painstaking compromise, it was designed to appeal to conservatives and others seeking tougher border enforcement; business interests eager for a steady supply of legal, low-wage labor; unions seeking enhanced protections for migrants who often toil in seasonal work the fields and Hispanics who are on the cusp of greater political power and determined to win a change in legal status for millions of illegal immigrants.
That last group Hispanics comprises the fastest growing segment of the electorate, and millions made their feelings clear in street demonstrations denouncing the House measure and calling for passage of a broader measure.
Bush played a prominent role in the run-up to passage. An Oval Office speech last week made explicit his support for the Senate's overall approach. A later trip to Arizona was designed to reassure conservatives about his commitment to stanching illegal immigration.
In more than a week of debate, the Senate made a series of changes in the legislation. Still, the key pillars were preserved when opponents failed to knock out the guest worker program or the citizenship provisions. A new program for 1.5 million temporary agricultural workers also survived.
To secure the borders, the measure calls for the hiring of an additional 1,000 new Border Patrol agents this year and 14,000 by 2011, and backs Bush's plan for a short-term deployment of National Guard troops to states along the Mexican Border. The bill calls for new surveillance equipment as well as the construction of 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers.
The new guest worker program would admit 200,000 individuals a year. Once here, they would be permitted for the first time to petition on their own for a green card that confers legal permanent residency, a provision designed to reduce the potential for exploitation by employers.
A separate new program, a compromise between growers and unions, envisions admission of an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers who may also apply for permanent residency
Even supporters of the bill conceded the three-tiered program related to illegal immigrants was complicated.
Those in the country unlawfully for five years or more would be permitted to remain, continue working and eventually apply for citizenship. They would be required to pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle any back taxes and learn English.
Illegal immigrants in the country for more than two years but less than five would be required to travel to a point of entry before re-entering the United States legally and beginning a lengthy process of seeking citizenship. They would be subject to the same fines, fees and other requirements as the longer-term immigrants.
An immigrant in the country illegally for less than two years would be required to leave with no guarantee of return.
A new electronic system for employee verification is designed to hold employers accountable for hiring decisions. It provides for maximum fines of $20,000 for each worker and possible jail time for repeat offenders.
A separate controversy erupted over a call to make English the national language. Supporters said it would leave all current rights in place. Detractors argued it could undermine an executive order that mandates assistance to individuals who receive services such as health care yet lack proficiency in English.
President Bush pushed this bill, standing behind Kennedy and McCain and other idiots. He sent Rove out to try to coerce the house into accepting it. Don't stand there with a straight face and blame just the senate, let all the Rinos take the blame, Bush and the boys and the senate Rino republicans!
So exactly how and when are conferees appointed or selected?
I'm pissed about that also.
Better duck there's a stampede on the border zillions of mexicans breaking in... oh wait they don't have to break in anymore they are welcomed plus their leader foxy is here already so welcome to mexico.
Since when did Mexico get 62 Senators?
Excellent post. The Senate kicked America in the teeth today.
Tell ya what .. when you start watching the Senate every day and what they do .. come talk to me
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He old views are different KKK.
Naw. Think it goes to the House, where, if they follow suit, it will not pass. And lo and behold, NOTHING GETS DONE. Which is what has happened for quite some time. But we only see 1-2 pages of this creepy excuse. There's something like 600 pages to this bill. And why on God's earth would we need 600 pages. The American people don't, the schuysters in the Senate, do. The people in the Senate are so far beyond words. I'm sure all the rest of the bill is just full of sneaky words, phrase, and sentences, that'll really pull one over on us American people. And pad the pockets of D.C. all the more...
He = His *sigh*
Only 36 Patriots huh?
There are 55 Republicans. Chances are pretty good at least 28-29 voted against this monstrosity. Hard to feel good about the numbers BUT the silver lining is that the President couldn't even command a Majority of Republicans in the Senate. That makes it a Democrat bill with RINO aid.
That is a DEFEAT for the President.
If he can't even coerce a majority of Senate RINO's of his party into supporting him, he is going to have a hell of a time twisting House Reps.
NO CONFERENCE HASTERT. DOA on arrival. NO AMNESTY by any name. Your careers this fall depend on it.
As for Martinez, Frist, mcCain and the rest of them? They can burn in hell. They'll never have my vote and I'll actively work against them.
All we really need to know Is who the traitors are....
The Rino yeas
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Chafee (R-RI)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Craig (R-ID)
DeWine (R-OH)
Domenici (R-NM)
Graham (R-SC)
Hagel (R-NE)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
I don't hold much hope after looking at the list you posted.
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 2nd Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Question: On Passage of the Bill (S. 2611 As Amended ) | |||
Vote Number: | 157 | Vote Date: | May 25, 2006, 05:39 PM |
Required For Majority: | 1/2 | Vote Result: | Bill Passed |
Measure Number: | S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 ) | ||
Measure Title: | A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes. |
Vote Counts: | YEAs | 62 |
NAYs | 36 | |
Not Voting | 2 |
Vote Summary | By Senator Name | By Vote Position | By Home State |
Akaka (D-HI), Yea Alexander (R-TN), Nay Allard (R-CO), Nay Allen (R-VA), Nay Baucus (D-MT), Yea Bayh (D-IN), Yea Bennett (R-UT), Yea Biden (D-DE), Yea Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Bond (R-MO), Nay Boxer (D-CA), Yea Brownback (R-KS), Yea Bunning (R-KY), Nay Burns (R-MT), Nay Burr (R-NC), Nay Byrd (D-WV), Nay Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea Chafee (R-RI), Yea Chambliss (R-GA), Nay Clinton (D-NY), Yea Coburn (R-OK), Nay Cochran (R-MS), Nay Coleman (R-MN), Yea Collins (R-ME), Yea Conrad (D-ND), Yea Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Craig (R-ID), Yea Crapo (R-ID), Nay Dayton (D-MN), Yea DeMint (R-SC), Nay DeWine (R-OH), Yea Dodd (D-CT), Yea Dole (R-NC), Nay |
Domenici (R-NM), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Nay Durbin (D-IL), Yea Ensign (R-NV), Nay Enzi (R-WY), Nay Feingold (D-WI), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Yea Frist (R-TN), Yea Graham (R-SC), Yea Grassley (R-IA), Nay Gregg (R-NH), Yea Hagel (R-NE), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Yea Hatch (R-UT), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Nay Inhofe (R-OK), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Nay Jeffords (I-VT), Yea Johnson (D-SD), Yea Kennedy (D-MA), Yea Kerry (D-MA), Yea Kohl (D-WI), Yea Kyl (R-AZ), Nay Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Leahy (D-VT), Yea Levin (D-MI), Yea Lieberman (D-CT), Yea Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Lott (R-MS), Nay Lugar (R-IN), Yea Martinez (R-FL), Yea McCain (R-AZ), Yea |
McConnell (R-KY), Yea Menendez (D-NJ), Yea Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Murray (D-WA), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Nay Obama (D-IL), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea Reed (D-RI), Yea Reid (D-NV), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting Santorum (R-PA), Nay Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Nay Smith (R-OR), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea Specter (R-PA), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Nay Stevens (R-AK), Yea Sununu (R-NH), Nay Talent (R-MO), Nay Thomas (R-WY), Nay Thune (R-SD), Nay Vitter (R-LA), Nay Voinovich (R-OH), Yea Warner (R-VA), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Yea |
Vote Summary | By Senator Name | By Vote Position | By Home State |
YEAs ---62 | ||
Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Bennett (R-UT) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brownback (R-KS) Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE) Chafee (R-RI) Clinton (D-NY) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Craig (R-ID) Dayton (D-MN) DeWine (R-OH) Dodd (D-CT) Domenici (R-NM) Durbin (D-IL) |
Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Frist (R-TN) Graham (R-SC) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) |
McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) Wyden (D-OR) |
NAYs ---36 | ||
Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Allen (R-VA) Bond (R-MO) Bunning (R-KY) Burns (R-MT) Burr (R-NC) Byrd (D-WV) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Cornyn (R-TX) |
Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Dole (R-NC) Dorgan (D-ND) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Grassley (R-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) |
Lott (R-MS) Nelson (D-NE) Roberts (R-KS) Santorum (R-PA) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Stabenow (D-MI) Sununu (R-NH) Talent (R-MO) Thomas (R-WY) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) |
Not Voting - 2 | ||
Rockefeller (D-WV) |
Salazar (D-CO) |
Vote Summary | By Senator Name | By Vote Position | By Home State |
Alabama: | Sessions (R-AL), Nay | Shelby (R-AL), Nay |
Alaska: | Murkowski (R-AK), Yea | Stevens (R-AK), Yea |
Arizona: | Kyl (R-AZ), Nay | McCain (R-AZ), Yea |
Arkansas: | Lincoln (D-AR), Yea | Pryor (D-AR), Yea |
California: | Boxer (D-CA), Yea | Feinstein (D-CA), Yea |
Colorado: | Allard (R-CO), Nay | Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting |
Connecticut: | Dodd (D-CT), Yea | Lieberman (D-CT), Yea |
Delaware: | Biden (D-DE), Yea | Carper (D-DE), Yea |
Florida: | Martinez (R-FL), Yea | Nelson (D-FL), Yea |
Georgia: | Chambliss (R-GA), Nay | Isakson (R-GA), Nay |
Hawaii: | Akaka (D-HI), Yea | Inouye (D-HI), Yea |
Idaho: | Craig (R-ID), Yea | Crapo (R-ID), Nay |
Illinois: | Durbin (D-IL), Yea | Obama (D-IL), Yea |
Indiana: | Bayh (D-IN), Yea | Lugar (R-IN), Yea |
Iowa: | Grassley (R-IA), Nay | Harkin (D-IA), Yea |
Kansas: | Brownback (R-KS), Yea | Roberts (R-KS), Nay |
Kentucky: | Bunning (R-KY), Nay | McConnell (R-KY), Yea |
Louisiana: | Landrieu (D-LA), Yea | Vitter (R-LA), Nay |
Maine: | Collins (R-ME), Yea | Snowe (R-ME), Yea |
Maryland: | Mikulski (D-MD), Yea | Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea |
Massachusetts: | Kennedy (D-MA), Yea | Kerry (D-MA), Yea |
Michigan: | Levin (D-MI), Yea | Stabenow (D-MI), Nay |
Minnesota: | Coleman (R-MN), Yea | Dayton (D-MN), Yea |
Mississippi: | Cochran (R-MS), Nay | Lott (R-MS), Nay |
Missouri: | Bond (R-MO), Nay | Talent (R-MO), Nay |
Montana: | Baucus (D-MT), Yea | Burns (R-MT), Nay |
Nebraska: | Hagel (R-NE), Yea | Nelson (D-NE), Nay |
Nevada: | Ensign (R-NV), Nay | Reid (D-NV), Yea |
New Hampshire: | Gregg (R-NH), Yea | Sununu (R-NH), Nay |
New Jersey: | Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea | Menendez (D-NJ), Yea |
New Mexico: | Bingaman (D-NM), Yea | Domenici (R-NM), Yea |
New York: | Clinton (D-NY), Yea | Schumer (D-NY), Yea |
North Carolina: | Burr (R-NC), Nay | Dole (R-NC), Nay |
North Dakota: | Conrad (D-ND), Yea | Dorgan (D-ND), Nay |
Ohio: | DeWine (R-OH), Yea | Voinovich (R-OH), Yea |
Oklahoma: | Coburn (R-OK), Nay | Inhofe (R-OK), Nay |
Oregon: | Smith (R-OR), Yea | Wyden (D-OR), Yea |
Pennsylvania: | Santorum (R-PA), Nay | Specter (R-PA), Yea |
Rhode Island: | Chafee (R-RI), Yea | Reed (D-RI), Yea |
South Carolina: | DeMint (R-SC), Nay | Graham (R-SC), Yea |
South Dakota: | Johnson (D-SD), Yea | Thune (R-SD), Nay |
Tennessee: | Alexander (R-TN), Nay | Frist (R-TN), Yea |
Texas: | Cornyn (R-TX), Nay | Hutchison (R-TX), Nay |
Utah: | Bennett (R-UT), Yea | Hatch (R-UT), Nay |
Vermont: | Jeffords (I-VT), Yea | Leahy (D-VT), Yea |
Virginia: | Allen (R-VA), Nay | Warner (R-VA), Yea |
Washington: | Cantwell (D-WA), Yea | Murray (D-WA), Yea |
West Virginia: | Byrd (D-WV), Nay | Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting |
Wisconsin: | Feingold (D-WI), Yea | Kohl (D-WI), Yea |
Wyoming: | Enzi (R-WY), Nay | Thomas (R-WY), Nay |
Vote Summary | By Senator Name | By Vote Position | By Home State |
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crap
ping to list on #108
And that's even if conservatives don't tell the RepubicRATs to go <expletive deleted> themselves.
Hmmmmm.
So, 41 Senators voted against it.
Which means that they COULD have filibustered it.
But they chose not to.
Hmmmmm.
Alright, so, what's next?
Conference committee - either the House doesn't cave, in which case there's no bill, and the status quo (which is 2 million illegals a year) is preserved; or the House caves, in which case, we make cheap exploitable labor LEGAL. The business lobby wins big either way.
And in November?
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