Ginsberg a copy of The Pelican Brief
Posted on 05/25/2006 4:35:06 PM PDT by Nachum
WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation to secure U.S. borders and offer millions of illegal immigrants access to the American dream cleared the Senate on Thursday, a rare election-year reach across party lines and a triumph for President Bush.
The 62-36 vote cleared the way for arduous summertime compromise talks with the House on its version that focuses on border enforcement - with no guarantee of success.
"Why not say to those undocumented workers who are working the jobs that the rest of us refuse, come out from the shadows," said Arizona Republican John McCain, a key architect of the bill.
The legislation includes money to better secure the borders, provide a new guest worker program and give an eventual shot at citizenship to many of the estimated 11 million to 12 million immigrants in the country illegally.
The bill "strengthens our security and reflects our humanity," said Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., McCain's partner in Senate compromise. "It is intended to keep out those who would harm us and welcome those who contribute to our country."
Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and the Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, both sided with supporters, a reflection of the bipartisan backing for a bill that was months in the drafting and survived several near-death experiences.
Conservative critics attacked the legislation to the end after trying unsuccessfully to pull it apart with amendments.
"This bill will not secure our borders," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., one of the most persistent critics.
"This is amnesty," added David Vitter, R-La., who tried last week to strip out provisions relating to citizenship.
Not so, said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in a rebuttal to weeks of debate. "They have to pay a fine. They have to undergo a criminal background check. They have to pay back taxes, they have to learn English and they have to go to the back of the line," he said, referring to illegal immigrants who would apply for citizenship.
Still, Sessions, Vitter, John Cornyn of Texas and others echoed a view widely held among 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 in November.
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.
(AP) Republican senators appear at a Capitol Hill news conference, Thursday, May 25, 2006, to discuss... Full Image
In contrast, 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.
From that list who voted for Amnesty the following republicans are up for re-election in November...
Chafee, Lincoln - (R - RI)
DeWine, Mike - (R - OH)
Frist, Bill - (R - TN)
Lugar, Richard - (R - IN)
Snowe, Olympia - (R - ME)
Good plan. That'll be the word that needs to be spread.
I'm off for tonight, all. Sleep well.
That would be something to see. And thanks for posting the entire criminal lineup.
I am so disgusted. Have spent all evening firing off emails.
I will not be sending any money to the Republicans anytime soon.
I cannot believe, or imagine that these jacka**es are so out of touch with the citizens of this country.
Good Lord.
Judicial Tyranny Goes Global
International mindset usurps parental rights
| by Michael P. Farris |
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a threat that longtime homeschoolers know well. If ratified by the United States Senate, it would ban spanking in our country. Homeschooling would no longer be governed by state law, but by a 10-member committee of child welfare "experts" in Geneva. Even our right to teach our children that Jesus is the only way to God would be in jeopardy.
Full Story:
Click Here
Lower federal courts have gotten on the internationalist bandwagon, too. The most dangerous resulting trend is the application of nonratified treaties that have been adopted by a large number of other nations as binding on the United States.
*** Note: Nothing on how, or who appointed this judge***
Federal Judicial Service:
Education:
Brooklyn College, B.A., 1943
Columbia Law School, LL.B., 1948
Professional Career:
U.S. Navy Lieutenant, 1943-1946
Lecturer, Columbia University, 1948-1949
Law clerk, Hon. Stanley Fuld, New York State Court of Appeals, 1949-1950
Private practice, New York City, 1950-1952
Faculty, Columbia University Law School, 1952-1967
Professor of law, 1956-1967
Adjunct professor, 1967-1998
County attorney, Nassau County, New York, 1955-1957
Adjunct professor, Brooklyn Law School, 1987-present
Race or Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
The note I just sent to my Kansas Senator that defected to the Dems on this issue:
Senator Brownback - I am OUTRAGED at your vote on the Senate Immigration Bill. You broke ranks with a majority of Republican Senators. You broke ranks with Senators Roberts, Talent and Bond. But more importantly, you broke ranks with - and are losing the faith of - your constituents.
A SIGNIFCANT PLURALITY of citizens do not want the type of reform the Senate passed on Thursday. How is it that you found yourself able to support a bill that a MAJORITY of Republican Senators opposed?
How is it that you supported a bill that the two Senators from Texas did not support? Do you not think they understand, better than you, the implications of illegal immigration upon our society?
As a strong Republican, my only regret is that you are NOT up for reelection until 2010. For I would devote all of my energy into finding and supporting a GOP candidate that would represent our values, that would not give away our culture and our country to Mexico and that would care more about what U.S. citizens wanted than what illegal aliens and the President of Mexico wanted.
His challenger is Stephen Laffey.
Looking at his record on the issues its almost hard to tell these two jokers apart. Laffey may be just a small bit more conservative but its hard to see the light between Chafee and Laffey, still, he is not Chafee and thats good enough for now. Better than a Dem, especially one of the Dems running against these guys.
Conservatives better think hard. The Dems are running the Communist party this time as their candidates... gees.. I got the wild idea of checking out the positions of Snowe's Democrat opponents and I recoiled in horror!!!
Ginsberg a copy of The Pelican Brief
"We will all be living the way they live in Johannesburg,S.A.----locking ourselves in behind the gates at night."
You are partly right. The Senate and House and all the elite will be behind the gates.
The rest of us will have to fend for ourselves.
""The sense of entitlement these people have is outrageous-----that we owe them a living, and that US citizens, and the US government, exist for their convenience...... while they break our laws with complete impunity.""
Exactly!!
Toss em OUT!!
Believe me it's coming.
"Problem is nobody is protecting the community from CONGRESS, especially the Senate.. and the president is ecourageing their malfeance.."
Correct.
Please add me to that ping list, Piper. Thx
LOL!
I love your Ginsberg!
Love your tagline, too.
Done ;)
Hi Smartass, just letting you know I'll be gone 3 days.
LOL, no, leaving early in the morning. I drink Pina Coladas rather than Margaritas.
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