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.
And don't just stand there for six years Mr. President... DO SOMETHING STUPID!!! (even if it's obviously wrong!)
Both he and Arnold Schwartzenrenegger want so desperately to be loved by Democrats and care nothing about dancing with the ones who brung 'em!!! (Both Bush First Ladys have made fools of their husbands!)
Since Ike???
WOW!!! That predates me. I joined back when Ronald Reagan ran in his first primary.
The Bushes ahve destroyed the Republican Party unless this bill is stopped in the House which is still possible. They are more in touch with the public than the Senate.
But if not, its Hasta La Vista GOP!!!!
Ronald Reagan was not G*d. And, yes, even Reagan made mistakes during his tenure in office. The '86 Immigration Reform and Control Act was one of them. There is no way in Hell they would let that thing pass if they actually knew then what they know now. At the very least they would've stripped the Simpson-Mazzoli amendment from the bill.
Even Reagan's own AG, Ed Meese, says that the '86 Amnesty was a mistake.
That’s silly.
Bush I started all this garbage by neglecting Reagan’s legacy and turning the GOP back over the Rockefeller Republicans.
His son finished the job.
No, a third party would need somebody with stature like Fred Thompson. And if this bill goes through, I hope he runs as an independent.
Before anyone gets any bright ideas...
Six arrested in ‘militia’ weapons raids; nearby school shut
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/26/weapons.raids.ap/index.html
True, the American public will need a lot of Preparation H, but there are not enough world supplies of that stuff to ease the pain of the Republican Party officials who will get theirs next year. The lowlifes!
It is indeed time to leave that party and form another party that will reflect our values.
We finance our own demise because of collective “guilt” over past “racism”.
Not if Republicans play it smart and move to corner the Hispanic vote.
I just finished my letters to my Senators and Rep to go out in tomorrow’s mail. Will also be making phone calls to their offices tomorrow. Hope many people will do the same, as mailed letters and calls are most effective in letting them know how you feel about this issue. I am really very disapointed to hear President Bush say positive things about legislation that provides amnesty after hearing him say a number of times that he would not sign a bill which allows amnesty!
Maybe it’s a three-way tie, but we are the dupes because we rejected two of those outright. We are just hooked on the letter “R”, I guess.
I have noticed that GWB and his family are more concerned about treating their “opponents” with respect than with the people who elected all those bozos.
Tancredo has less than a zero chance to win the nomination, and even less than that if he WERE nominated.
He's okay locally, but nationally, he's a loser.
When the voters' choices in LOCAL elections are a RINO or a Democrat, does that mean they should stay home?
What we have is the SUM of ALL local elections in Congress, where the MAJORITY of Districts and States had a MAJORITY of candidates that were either RINO, or Democrat....THAT is how Republicans lost the House and the Senate.
With Bush's support of the Amnesty Senate bill today, he's let down any Republican who believes law-breaking should NOT be rewarded in any way, and there's no rational argument for Amnesty, period.
The Federal Government has been completely unwilling, and unable, to enforce the current immigration laws and border security for the last 20 years.
Why does anyone think that anythng is different now?
BTW, look at this from the Mexican point of view. This is a MASSIVE victory for the Mexican government. They are now able to offload another 10,000,000+ of their poor into the US now. That is 10,000,000 they won’t have to worry about.
As I have said, actor Thompson is an establishment “big-tent” type of Republican. A third party is out of the question for him.
Keep ranting, you're doing fine.
Someone else complained about the all-caps, but in this case, shouting is appropriate!
- John
Also, Nancy Reagan did not support the Reagan programs.
jveritas has offered free-of-charge countless hours of his own time to translate documents found in Iraq and Afghanistan that the US military and intelligence didn’t have time or inclination to translate.
I’ve found his translations to be exceptionally important.
He’s working through the process to obtain citizenship, and he’s a true patriot. It’s as much his business as it is yours.
So who're you not wasting your vote on?
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