Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
Transcript them into service for the UN? That's about the only abomination left for this administration. I really can't think of anything else they haven't done. It's too strong (our Military) to be left in the hands of US hicks and it would be for our own good. Blackbird.
I’ve been somewhat Libertarian in the past, but they’re pretty useless, and even worse on immigration. Honestly, I’ve never been much on party politics, but I’ve heard some good things about the Constitution party. I’ll have to investigate them further.
You're falling prey to what all the RINO's are saying. "It was the best deal we could get". Don't buy it. They don't have to take it, they can kill it. This is BS.
Common courtesy would suggest that, as guests, they stay out of such a vitriolic debate.
Keep up the good fight!
And I’ll only join you at the polls when we have solid conservative choices.
A vote for a third party is a vote for the Democrats.
The thing is this: the same people who complain about Republican senators are the first in line to vote to renominate their own Republican senator.
I haven’t listened to Rush in months. Is he still trying to defend GWB, or has he given up on the impossible too?
And apparently so is a vote for Republicans. Until we implement a runoff system, the status quo will reign. Personally, I would prefer instant runoff voting.
Tancredo knows that CO is flooded with liberals now, and he is fighting a losing battle. He’ll be lucky to get reelected to the House if he can file in time.
There becomes a time that it really doesn't matter. That time may not be today, but soon a vote for a Republican is the same as a vote for a Democrat.
Anyway, I did some contribution to this great nation, though is at little one, I spent hundreds of hours reading over 50 thousand pages of Saddam documents, translating it and posting it here on FR so people will know the truth about Saddam WMD and his strong relation to terrorism.
Again, you are a person full of hate and you lie all the time about what I am saying.
Thank You.
I guess I will be the only one at the STATE HOUSE IN NH on Saturday?
Thank You.
I guess I will be the only one at the STATE HOUSE IN NH on Saturday?
Pat looks better every year. Had he not been seen as so anti-Israel, he might have done something. But most people loathe him.
I would also add to that some publicized raids on private, well-to-do homes, fines on citizens who have illegal nannies and gardeners. Make them all scared of La Migra again, and they WILL deport themselves.
Its time for a third party.
It is my business. I am a law abiding permanent legal resident of this great country and I am going to be a citizen. Who are you to tell me that it is not my business? Now you go and pund sand. My contributions to this forum exceeds all the hate filled nuts on this thread times one thousand.
Read my post 1013.
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