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.
I am actually weeping over this tonight. I feel we have lost our country to Mexico!
A Californian
AMNESTY SENATORS - Amnesty For Illegal Aliens
Measure Number: S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )
Grouped By Vote Position 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)
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00157#top
Speaking of New World Order -- did you see the post here tonight that the UN says Home Schooling your children is against a 1995 treaty Clinton signed with them.
"The bill "strengthens our security and reflects our humanity," said Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., "
Where was his humanity in July,1969 ??????
God I hate that man and I live in Massachusetts.
AMNESTY REPUBLICANS
Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Chafee (R-RI)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Craig (R-ID)
DeWine (R-OH)
Domenici (R-NM)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
The illegals probably won't harm them in a gated community even WITH illegal alien employees..
Problem is nobody is protecting the community from CONGRESS, especially the Senate.. and the president is ecourageing their malfeance..
The citizenry does not exist to serve the government.
The Founders intended to protect the people's rights by limiting the powers of government. Any action which is intended to protect the people's interests from an errant government is to be applauded.
Unfortunately, liberal thought police----NEA, PP'hood, SIECUS, etc----have indoctrinated a generation with Marxist/Socialist agit-prop so that many see the gov't as the solution to problems, and work to grant gov't more and more power over the lives of the citizenry.
We see here in the Senate bill what happens when an arrogant gov't assumes too much power.
Snowe, Olympia (R) Maine... vulnerable?
I went through the list in your link. It has kennedy and Hillary "vulnerable". And Snowe being vulnerable is news to me.
That list cannot be correct
It's from a 2004 thread, the link to it is on the post; sorry; the information is obviously not current, but that is how the list of Republican names was posted on the other thread.
Are crossing a border by stealth (illegeally), using fraudulent SS documents, tax fraud, illegal use of a motor vehicle, etc. not crimes? Or are those crimes forgiven or overlooked?
You're absolutely right, Liz. But, what to do about it now? They've sold out America, signed over U.S. citizens' right by fiat to a corrupt country and corrupt president of Mexico.
Anybody got a list of the senators up for re-election in 2006 who voted yea and nea so that we know who to avoid sending money to and who we should support financially?
Robert Bennett (UT): (202) 224-5444
Sam Brownback (KS): (202) 224-6521
Lincoln Chafee (RI): (202) 224-2921
Norm Coleman (MN): (202) 224-5641
Susan Collins (ME) (202) 224-2523
Larry Craig (ID): (202) 224-2752
Mike DeWine (OH): (202) 224-2315
Pete Domenici (NM): (202) 224-6621
Bill Frist (TN): (202) 224-3344
Lindsay Graham (SC): (202) 224-5972
Judd Gregg (NH): (202) 224-3324
Chuck Hagel (NE): (202) 224-4224
Richard Lugar (IN): (202) 224-4814
Mel Martinez (FL): (202) 224-3041
John McCain (AZ): (202) 224-2235
Mitch McConnell (KY): (202) 224-2541
Lisa Murkowski (AK): (202) 224-6665
Gordon Smith (OR): (202) 224-3753
Olympia Snowe (ME): 202) 224-5344
Arlen Specter (PA): (202) 224-4254
Ted Stevens (AK): (202) 224-3004
George Voinovich (OH): (202) 224-3353
John Warner (VA): (202) 224-2023
The Founders wisely built-in escape valves----one of which is the election process.
Admittedly, the Senate has made it more difficult---- illegals are empowered now, more than ever, to vote using false documents. And our stupid Senators could care less that the invaders have threatened to take over the US with the vote----or with violence, if necessary.
Yet, we cannot and shall not be deterred. Pressure must be placed on House members to stand firm against the invading hordes. And the 2008 election looms as an opportunity to right these wrongs. For example, planks in the Repub party's presidential platform must include the negation of the Senate atrocity.
absolutely!
Three Very interesting Senators still have primaries.
Frist of Tennessee - August 3rd
Chafee of Rhode Island - September 12th
Snowe of Maine - June 13
Imagine the Impact of Frist losing his seat? As well as Chafee and Snowe.. RINO stampede. This is where to apply pressure on the Senate to get with the Program. If there are suitable Conservatives that can get elected we would be so much better off its crazy.. and we wouldn't have to flirt with giving over power to the Dems!!!
Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Stevens (R-AK), Yea - 8/22
Arizona: McCain (R-AZ), Yea - 9/12
Florida: Martinez (R-FL), Yea - 9/5
Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Yea
Indiana: Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Kansas: Brownback (R-KS), Yea - 8/1
Kentucky: McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Maine: Collins (R-ME), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea - 6/13 - IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Minnesota: Coleman (R-MN), Yea - 9/12
Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea
New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Yea - 9/12
New Mexico: Domenici (R-NM), Yea - 6/6
Ohio: DeWine (R-OH), Yea Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oregon: Smith (R-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania: Nay Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island: Chafee (R-RI), Yea - 9/12 - IN THE LINE OF FIRE
South Carolina: Graham (R-SC), Yea - 6/13
Tennessee: Frist (R-TN), Yea - 8/3 - IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Yea - 6/27
Virginia: Warner (R-VA), Yea - 6/14
Three Very interesting Senators still have primaries.
Frist of Tennessee - August 3rd
Chafee of Rhode Island - September 12th
Snowe of Maine - June 13
Imagine the Impact of Frist losing his seat? As well as Chafee and Snowe.. RINO stampede. This is where to apply pressure on the Senate to get with the Program. If there are suitable Conservatives that can get elected we would be so much better off its crazy.. and we wouldn't have to flirt with giving over power to the Dems!!!
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