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.
Will McCain - Kennedy smell as bad as McCain - Feingold?
I think the product you were looking for would be KY Jelly. I would apply the Preperation H directly on Bush.
And how many illegals reside in the Kennedy Kompound?
(aside from the hired “help” who probably sleep in the basement.)
Absolutely! When will so called Republicans understand that neither the Democrats NOR the Republicans represent us. They don’t give a damn about you or me. Lesser of two evils my ass!
“What was wrong with leaving things like they were?
I’m kicking myself for ever voting for BUSH. He can go to hell and can kiss my grits! I can’t even look at him anymore.”
I supported him twice. Now, he makes me want to vomit. I put him in a class with Benedict Arnold.
[shaking head]
Problem is if you vote for a Democrat you’ll get ten times as many illegals camped out on your lawn.
The whole think is an abject stinkeroo. House, PLEASE hold!
You want to know what’s really frightening? Legal immigrants are screened. I will guarentee you that if there are 20 million illegals here, 19 million of them would not pass the screening process.
Each and every one.
It's third party time for me if this goes through. Not that it will matter, with the millions and millions of new Democrats that amnesty will provide.
Hope you chock on it you traiterous ba$tards
And Jorge is pushing it now because he never gave a damn about the opinion of most of his supporters anyway.
I hope the first piece of real estate Mexico annexes is Crawford, Texas.
Hope you choke on it you traiterous ba$tards
kyl on C Span tallijg about this now
“for 4 years they have been carefully working through the channels to become US citizens, doing everything the law requires.”
Same thing with my highly educated d-i-l to be and her family of highly educated professionals. Lots of loops and lots of nonsense.
Gee, will this "try" be as effective as the last?
They got here. They can go back the same way.
Now, now. It isn’t all that bad. Remember, diversity is our number ONE strength. Plus, this keeps wages down, helping you pay less for lawn care, roofing, etc. Is it really too much to ask Americans to take a couple courses in Spanish in order to give our new citizens a proper welcome???
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