Posted on 05/26/2006 3:21:27 PM PDT by davidosborne
VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE: 62-36
From Governor Dean:
"We congratulate Senate Democrats for their continued leadership, led by Leader Harry Reid, on the important issue of comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats have consistently fought for immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages, reunites families and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship.
"While the Senate bill is better than the Republican bill passed by the House with the President's backing, the next important step of reconciling these measures could erase any progress already made. President Bush and Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist must reject the anti-immigrant and un-American elements of the House bill. So far, President Bush has stood on the sidelines while allowing extremists in his party to hijack the debate. The President must now make sure that his proclamations on immigration do not become empty, misleading rhetoric by standing up to the far-right. America needs leadership that brings our country together and that delivers the comprehensive reform that the American people expect and demand."
From 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 and its more conservative measure 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 could be a HUGE opportunity to strip the DNC of ALL of their Moderate/Pro Border Security Democrats
The Democratic President leads his party to success in the Senate!
Now they'll have to deal with those pesky conservative House Republicans.
Passing it on... has anyone cosidered this angle on this debate?
I have a feeling that this will all turn out okay. The differences between the House and Senate bill are stark, and it's high-profile.
Unlike most legislation, there is plenty of time for the public to weigh in.
The House will not cave. They're ALL up for election this November.
Democracy is messy, but it beats the alternative.
Passing it on... has anyone cosidered this angle on this debate?
wow the minority leads the majority... only in America.
And he did. Immigration was not the issue.
The DIMS split the GOP into two, certainly with some RINO assistance.
Rats support amnesty because 90% of hispanics given citizenship will vote Democrat
the ONLY Democrats I know, who OPPOSE the house bill are the extreme "you are a racist if you enforce immigration laws" type.
False.
The voters don't want this bill. Three of the four Democrats who voted against the bill know it. The Post knows it, obviously.
And now you know it.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT !!
KEEP SCREAMING THIS LINE HOWARD.. PLEASE PLEASE ... PLEASE
LOL !!
Does Howard really believe this garbage??
Funny how that has turned out given that is exactly what our founders did not want to happen. How minority (in numbers, ie not race)rights have lead to minority rule. Isn't that a tyranny?
it sure as hell isn't democracy, but I don't know what you call it... maybe "PC" weak knee politicians that lead on emotion rather than logic.
LOL
Our battle is not with the Senators who voted on the "Senate Version" on the bill....the two bill are "oceans" apart.. with the house version being a MUCH BETTER BILL !! our battle is with the Senators who will go to conference with house.. which I just found out will be ALL MEMBERS of the Judiciary Committee and then some additional Senators yet to be named by Reid and Frist !!!...
WE NEED TO LET THESE FOLKS KNOW that we SUPPORT THE HOUSE VERSION !! NOT THE SENATE VERSION !!! now get er done !!
---> for now we can focus our efforts on the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMEBERS !!!
Arlen Specter Orrin G. Hatch Patrick J. Leahy Charles E. Grassley Edward M. Kennedy Jon Kyl Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Mike DeWine Hrbert Kohl Jeff Sessions Dianne Feinstein Lindsey Graham Russell D. Feingold John Cornyn Charles E. Schumer Sam Brownback Richard J. Durbin Tom Coburn
I have written an OPEN LETTER to the conferees and I encouge EVERYONE who cares about this to do the same.... feel free to copy/edit/distribute my letter.. MY OPEN LETTER TO CONFEREES
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