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.
So, would Bush actually break out a veto pen to dump the rest of the crap that was loaded in, or would he realize that the rest of the crap would simply be passed by the middle of 2009 thanks to the effects of what he said he wanted?
I'm encouraged with the 56-41 margin of defeat. 35 repubs are sane and only 20 are complete morons. The margin is considerably closer than predicted by many pundits. Despite this result, I think the momentum is slowly shifting to the conservative perspective. I am optimistic the House will hang tough and carve out the amnesty benefit giveaway and hopefully up the amount of fencing.
No. It now goes to a joint conference committee with the House.
Bush isn't going to say or do anything till we see what comes out of Conference
I think I made a mistake, that the 56-41 vote is the final amendment that required the US to consult with Mexico for approval on border security. Can't get the text.
Someone please find the Dodd amendment that was added to the bill at the last minute...
Alter is that the Dodd add on?
I'll take your word for that as far as the Senate. But the House conferees aren't appointed yet.
sad but true!!!!!
Wonder how to get this list on a dart board......
It was part of the Managers Package .. a bunch of amendments from both sides put together for one vote
Senator Kyle caught it
Dog, I think it was the Specter amendment, but doesn't have any data other than the vote total listed at this time.
They have updated the web site to show that the final bill passed under vote #157 but don't have the data posted as of yet.
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm
even senator byrd voted against it
This won't go to the HOUSE , I understand!!
The economic results will be the elimination of the Bush era tax cuts, higher taxes on the middle and upper classes, implementation of the Kyoto restrictions on energy production and consumption, a return to 1970s inflation, even the 55 m.p.h. national speed limit. In foreign policy, our military power will be curtailed and American economic and strategic interests will be placed essentially into the hands of the United Nations, NATO, and any "son of NAFTA" transnational organization that may arise in the Western Hemisphere. As for social issues, any areas where Congress would be reluctant to offend culturally conservative Hispanics, such as abortion and homosexual marriage, will be addressed by the judicial selections made by a liberal Congress and President.
Unless the House stands firm in this matter and insists on closing the border first, the political alignment in America will shift to the probably permanent disadvantage of conservatism. BTW, the "fairness doctrine" will be revived, and talk radio as we know it will be dead. We will be back to the days of 20-25 years ago when someone like George Will or Robert Novak was the lone conservative who was usually shouted down by the liberals.
I wish I could be more optimistic, but the demographics of amnesty are evident and are clearly favorable to liberalism and the Democrats. This gloomy outcome is, however, good news to Democrats, RINOs, and the pseudo-conservatism defenders of amnesty and open borders on this site.
Great idea. After we annex Mexico we can offer jobs to the guest workers to go down and start buiding some golf courses
You've got to be sh*#% me? Nuts!
They had control for decades...and nothing this bad ever came out. So...not false but...
--
The New Deal, The Great Society, Medicare,
Abortion, Welfare, need I go on,, , all the while coddling with commies,, all in the last 75 years alone ,, the liebrals have little to crow about accomplishments-wise, imo. The left's hands are far from clean.
Would you say different?
Thanks deport...I'm a tad pissed right now...so bear with me.
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