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.
You obviously do not believe the illegal immigrant situation is a significant threat.
Fine, but don't show up on these threads throwing out obscure charges of racism to those with whom you disagree.
Its a cheap disgusting & dishonest tactic & does not reflect well on you. Especially in view of your status in this country.
There discrimination against me for not being a citizen yet forced me to do so.
Seems I remember quite a few of his posts being removed, and some not, because he was getting out of hand.
If you are going to contact your representative about this “immigration” bill, you will want to urge them to vote “NO” to Cloture.
Voting YES to Cloture and NO to the bill is meaningless, and only allows the Senator to say I voted against the bill, but not doing anything to effectively stop the bill.
We should be shooting for filibuster on this since we know we’ll lose an up-or-down vote on the bill itself.
“NO” for Cloture on Monday will require the supporters to get 60 votes to get the bill to the floor for a vote.
Where did I call anyone “racist” on this thread? Please show me the post or else apologize for lying.
I am not an arrogant ass, I am just stating the facts. They were telling me not to express my opinion on these threads and I replied with the right stuff.
“Something VERY BAD IS HAPPENING to the economy, and it is called illegal immigration.
People around here, who play by the rules, are losing their livelihoods to the unethical greedy companies that hire illegals.
They simply cannot compete.”
Yes, yes, yes! There used to be day labor companies my kids worked for during summers and when they needed cash. All sorts of jobs from ditch digging to landscaping to washing hospital beds, different every day were available. It paid minimum. These companies are gone.
Now, the business who used to use the day labor exchange just pick up illegal migrant labor on the streets, no social security withholding, no minimum wage, nothing.
The “jobs that Americans won’t do” are being driven by lower and lower wages and no regulations or taxes.
Yes, it is pure treason. No more, no less. Deliberate violation of the oath of office to defend the Constitution.
Let the dems impeach him for whatever, jaywalking, I don't care. He deserves what he gets. (But he doesn't care. He'll be retired in Paraguay after the payoffs).
This whole debate on immigration reeks of xenophobia on the part of the antis as witnessed by their disapproval of even allowing a “foreigner” to post here.
If you express opinions that 99% of the people here consider seditious in this climate, what the heck do you expect, a medal?
Two things. First 1000% does not equal 1000 fold. This is a pet peeve of mine. Second, jveritas didn't bash an individual or you specifically. Different posters here have teamed up on him or her and the response was nothing more than an emotional outburst. That doesn't excuse it, but it isn't nearly as significant as a personal insult.
Now, put things in perspective. People are all spun up like a turbine generator in a steam plant. I don't agree with jveritas that there are tons of nuts posting right now. That isn't fair. There are just lots of people who are very emotional and refuse to debate logically. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to criticize someone who is directly insulting another.
I called on guy a racist 2 years ago, in a private e-mail. he is the one who made my comment public. I was absolutely right about him, and he eventually got banned for being excessively a racist. I do not know if he returns with another screen name.
Don't be obtuse. You know damn well what you said earlier in the thread, and you know what it implied.
Again do not lie. Tell me where I called anyone a “racist” on this thread.
So the hell what? You think it makes any difference which side of the bi-factional, socialist, treasonous ruling party is elected, except who gets the spoils?
Oh please. A couple of people object and you pull the nationalist race card.
We have grave concerns that aren’t being addressed by our representatives.
No, just 99% of the people posting here. Blech.
OUR OWN GOVERMENT IS MORE OF AN ENEMY TO US THAN ALL OF THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS GROUPS COMBINED!!!!!!
I don’t recall our government or Mexican immigrants flying airplanes into our buildings killing thousands of our countrymen, do you?
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