Immigration compromise falters on Hill

AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/10/07 | Julie Hirschfeld Davis - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Efforts to reach an immigration compromise faltered Thursday as Democrats and Republicans staked out divergent positions and prepared to blame each other for scuttling the best chance for a broad overhaul this year.

Talks continued on a possible deal that would tie residency for millions of illegal immigrants to tougher border security and a crackdown on employing undocumented workers. At the same time, however, Republicans and Democrats set the stage for a partisan battle next week that could squash any agreement.

Democrats plan to force a debate starting Tuesday on last year's Senate-passed immigration measure. Most Democrats supported that plan, which a majority of Republican senators opposed.

The move is designed to pressure Republicans to cut a deal or risk being blamed for undermining one.

President Bush is "going to have to tell his Republicans, 'I want a bill,'" said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev. "If we lose this opportunity to do immigration reform, (Bush) can't go around the country saying, 'I believe in comprehensive immigration reform.'"

GOP senators are promising to block the move, saying the series of secretive talks attended by the White House and a few Democrats needed more time to yield a compromise.

"It would be a shame if that arbitrary deadline resulted in the process coming to a halt," said Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., the No. 3 GOP leader.

The developing impasse could prevent the Senate from even opening debate next week on reshaping immigration laws.

The issue is fraught with political risks and rewards for both parties and is a priority for Bush. Absent a bipartisan deal, Democrats would almost certainly be unable to get the 60 votes they would need to overcome GOP opposition and bring up the bill, which was to be considered over the next two weeks.

For some lawmakers, their appetite for a bargain is waning.

The GOP position has "moved far to the right" since last year, said Sen. Robert Menendez (news, bio, voting record), R-N.J., who has attended the talks.

"We have serious concerns about the workability and fairness of certain elements of the White House plan," Menendez added. He said the GOP proposal was "a huge step backward" from the 2006 measure, which 23 Republicans supported.

Talks have bogged down in a tangle of details. That has led officials in both parties to play down the chances for a breakthrough.

Publicly, Republicans remained sunny about the prospects of a compromise, reluctant to be seen as obstacles to achieving an item that polls show has broad support.

"I think it's pretty clear that the vast majority of Republicans want an immigration bill," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky.

Sen. Richard Durbin (news, bio, voting record), D-Ill., said Democrats are concerned the emerging bipartisan measure is going too far to placate GOP conservatives at the risk of alienating Democrats.

"Our frustration is, we look around the table of the negotiators, and they are trying to please Republican senators who were totally opposed to comprehensive immigration reform," said Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat. "As a consequence, they are leaving behind a lot of mainstream Democrats and Republicans."

Republicans, many of whom considered last year's measure unduly lenient toward illegal immigrants, said they were bent on supporting the new approach under discussion in the bipartisan talks.

Modeled after a White House draft circulated in late March, it would impose large fines, long waits and trips home on illegal immigrants seeking to gain legal status. It would shift the immigration system toward one based more heavily on skills and employment criteria, eliminating or curtailing opportunities for immigrants to bring their families to the U.S.

"Republicans need to stand firm for this framework," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala. "The danger for Republicans would be that somehow they felt weak and defensive, and accepted so many compromises on this framework that it really is not true to the ideals it proposes." The negotiations have been extraordinarily sensitive for both sides. Democrats are wary of committing to anything stricter than last year's bill. Republicans are concerned about embracing anything that gives illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship — decried by conservatives as "amnesty."

[Jim Robinson]

Guess we’ve all heard it a million times. We don’t need any new laws. Just enforce the ones we already have.

[VictoryGal]

That would sure be nice— looks like it’ll never happen tho. They’re too intoxicated with cheap labor (Dims AND Reps), at our expense for social services.

I am so tired of this @#$%. Honestly, who speaks for us in Congress? A handful of patriots.

[sheana]

The GOP position has “moved far to the right” since last year, said Sen. Robert Menendez

Hope it has moved far-right.

[kerryusama04]

The move is designed to pressure Republicans to cut a deal or risk being blamed adored, loved, and swung back into the majority for undermining one.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"'We have serious concerns about the workability and fairness of certain elements of the White House plan,' Menendez added."

Any guesses at to whether or not he is talking about the "fairness" as it pertains to the American citizenry?

[Menehune56]

The GOP position has "moved far to the right" since last year, said Sen. Robert Menendez (news, bio, voting record), R-N.J., who has attended the talks.

You'd think a news powerhouse like AP would at least get this bozo's party affiliation right.

[TomGuy]

Republicans and Democrats set the stage for a partisan battle next week that could squash any agreement.

Good.

And if they do nothing, that is better than passing that albatross from last session.

Gridlock may turn out to be the best thing for Bush's last 2 years. The worst thing would be his getting his amnesty -- and losing Congress for decades and the WH potentially for as long.

And this conflict is just in the Senate. There is a good possibility that moderate Dems don't want amnesty any more than Republican conservatives do. So even if Senator Reid does get a bill out of the Senate, it could face defeat in the House.

[Menehune56]

I think the open borders crowd actually prefers a status quo that maintains a virtually unlimited supply of illegal workers. They’re much more exploitable.

[muawiyah]

Teddy Kennedy wanted the amnesty that allowed the Duka brothers into the country as permanent residents. Odds are good he wanted the Duka brothers themselves ~ maybe so their old man would put a new roof on his house or something.

Everything is possible here. Blame must be assigned.

[rbg81]

Publicly, Republicans remained sunny about the prospects of a compromise, reluctant to be seen as obstacles to achieving an item that polls show has broad support. Yeah, sure, broad support. I'm sure most people support the increased security but very few support rewarding illegals. When you lump all the issues together in one poll, it serves to put lipstick on the pig. I'm not sure I can remember the last time the MSM has been trustworthy.

[glorgau]

Absent a bipartisan deal, Democrats would almost certainly be unable to get the 60 votes they would need to overcome GOP opposition and bring up the bill, which was to be considered over the next two weeks

Couldn't the Pubs' give them the 60 votes needed for consideration and then slam dunk the Dems during the debate and then on the actual vote?

[bonehead4freedom]

I’m for immigration reform,enforce the law send’em home!

[FredHunter08]

“Any guesses at to whether or not he is talking about the “fairness” as it pertains to the American citizenry?”

We only count to pay the bills and reemploy these cretins.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Publicly, Republicans remained sunny about the prospects of a compromise, reluctant to be seen as obstacles to achieving an item that polls show has broad support.

Really, and what polls would those be? The last four I've seen showed people overwhelmingly want enforcement, not amnesty.

[RedMonqey]

"The GOP position has moved far to the right? since last year, said Sen. Robert Menendez (news, bio, voting record), R-N.J

That really means alot coming from a DEMOCRAT./sar

[Bogtrotter52]

“Immigration compromise falters on hill”

Good. And lets hope all upcoming ones do the same

[Ron H.]

[tsowellfan]

Im sure our petitions, emails and phone calls have a lot to do with this.

It’s about time to sign another petition if there’s one out there

[BobS]

"We don’t need any new laws. Just enforce the ones we already have."

This must be sunk. This reckless idea of Bush's had a lot to do with losing congress last year. Hugh Hewitt was right about this before the election.

Being told we need "comprehensive immigration reform" for "jobs Americans won't do" makes my anger 3dB more intense every time I hear that. Seeing ski-masked illegal alien scum attack police in McArthur Park turns my anger from dB into Kilowatts.