Posted on 05/08/2007 5:39:22 PM PDT by James W. Fannin
Immigration deal is near, says Specter |
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May 09, 2007 | |
The Senates bipartisan immigration talks yesterday yielded the first stirrings of a grand bargain, but the fate of the compromise remained uncertain amid political pressure from interest groups and a potential filibuster. Sanctions for employers who hire illegal immigrants, thousands of new Border Patrol agents and a trigger mechanism to tackle border security are all under consideration, Specter said. But he warned that Reids plans to call up last years Senate-passed immigration bill which has lost significant support as a placeholder could bring the process to a halt. [There is a GOP] disinclination to support a motion to proceed to last years bill, Specter said, raising the possibility that there may be a filibuster there. Lawmakers from both ends of the ideological spectrum believe time is growing short for an immigration bill that can pass both houses before presidential politics take hold. The springs marathon talks have joined as many as a dozen senators with two Cabinet members representing the White House, but few negotiators were openly optimistic until yesterday. Reids plans remained firm, launching tomorrow with a so-called Rule 14 filing on either last years committee-passed or Senate-passed immigration bill. He urged Specters group to offer language as a substitute or in several amendments to that placeholder measure. Senators have known for two months that immigration would come up next week, Reid told reporters yesterday. Anyone who thinks two months is not enough time to get ready should get another occupation. Senate GOP Conference Chairman Jon Kyl (Ariz.), an opponent of last years bill turned White House ally in the negotiations, tamped down talk of a filibuster on the motion to proceed to placeholder legislation provided that it would be only a stand-in for a complete agreement that has yet to emerge. The question is, what if there isnt a bipartisan consensus [by next week]? If it cant be done, my preference would be [to] keep the process alive, Kyl said. Meanwhile, a coalition of labor and advocacy groups supporting a path to citizenship for the countrys 11 million immigrants kicked off a $250,000 campaign pushing Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) to back a path to citizenship for those in the country illegally. The Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) is running print advertisements and radio spots in Martinezs home state. The ads press the Republican National Committee (RNC) general chairman, a Cuban-American immigrant himself, to move the Senate away from a White House-floated proposal that immigrant-rights groups consider draconian. What were asking him to do is bring the debate to the center, the CCIR campaign manager, Clarissa Martinez, said. I think theyre putting the process in reverse with the negotiations going on today. Martinez was dismayed by the ad rollout, which comes not long after a cadre of RNC members attempted to block him from the partys helm for what they considered his too-soft stance on immigration. Considering the criticism from both sides of the immigration debate, Martinez said, I must be doing something right where the sweet spot is. Yet he acknowledged that the ads have caused a lot of consternation among Republicans who fear that political pressure will torpedo the consensus. Obviously, if one side or another decides they want this thing to fail before the 08 elections, were not going to get very far, Martinez said. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), another White House ally in the negotiating process, called the Martinez ads exceedingly bad form. This is bad news, because what it demonstrates is that some of the liberal groups dont feel like theyre going to get everything they want out of a consensus bill, Cornyn said. So theyre trying to undermine our ability to get a bill. The CCIR is compiling a bipartisan list of senators to target with future home-state ads, focusing on border states such as Texas and California, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) has indicated she no longer would back last years bill. Another swipe at the Senates compromise came from across the Capitol, where several border-first House Republicans, along with Democratic freshman Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.), released a terse letter to their counterparts in the upper chamber. Its important that the Senate know that now there is strong opposition in the House of Representatives. Its bipartisan opposition to amnesty, Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) told reporters. Jackie Kucinich contributed to this article. |
Being sold down the river again :-( BOHICA
Yeppers....we’re about to be sold down the river.
This could be the start of something very bad for America...and the citizenry has no voice in it...you can imagine what it is going to be, especially given the last attempt which was a travesty upon America...
Bad news.
It will be passed on a “voice vote”, late at night,probably some Friday...bet on it.
And no chance for a veto...filibuster????????
From this President? Not unless it’s too strict.
That can’t be good.
Time to grab the ankles, America. Here it comes.
Another occasion for Al-Qaeda to hi-5 each other.
a grand bargain for illegals, bankruptcy for the rest of us
empty promises of border security in exchange for amnesty for millions of future democRat voters
I wonder if there was a 21 year waiting period for voting rights, if these guys would be so eager to fill this place up.
This is one time I hope they succeed.
Yep.
“That cant be good”
Ah, it’s all a show to make Bush seem as if he’s in the middle position.
I think it is all dead.
The “Senators” have never met House members on this, as far as I can tell.
And when the filibuster comes, there will be Democrats like Ben Nelson participating, and the Rove/Media constructed narrative that all Democrats are on board cannot escape criticism.
Damn.
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