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 got that right. Love how the Reagan Conservatives have no idea what RR slogan Half a Loaf is better than None. The new Snow White Conservatives get nothing and then whine and moan about Bush rather than looking at their reflection.
I work with plenty of businesses that cannot find Americans that will do their jobs. Don’t tell the purists because they think it is a myth.
Our truth makes us as popular as a cactus at a nudist colony on this board.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Perhaps your research showed that JV is one of the most valuable posters on this bored?? Maybe you will find that he translated and exposed documents proving WMD from arabic documents. Perhaps you can show where you have done equally as important work of value on this site. He is a diamond in a mountain of coal.
JV has earned the right to say and disagree w/as many self proclaimed “conservatives” as he likes.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
“There will be a Senate debate next week, and then a vote.
The cart got stuck ahead of the horse by the media and those with a clear and present dangerous agenda.”
thank you...I admit to paying zero attention in government class...I have no idea how these things work.. But from the sounds of it, an intentionally misleading message has been sent. The Open Borders Lobby and it’s media WANTS the American people to believe it is a done deal.
Apparently Congress has left the flag on top of the Capital building sitting in bleach too long - it is solid white now.
Once the amnesty bill is passed, and provided guest workers abide by its provisions, then they will be legal immigrants.
Sorry. Conservatives don’t reward law breakers.
I do not support Rudy Guiliani, but I will defend some of the people who do. They have a right to their opinion the same as you and I do...that's what's so wonderful about the United States...we're not a dictatorship, and have a constitutional right to certain freedoms regardless of what others may think.
I disagree with your comment that all "Rudy-Supporters are Liberals who want nothing more then the breakup of the Republican party if not America." I have been on other threads with some of these people who have been banned, and they are not Liberal. They are staunch Conservatives who are viewing Rudy Guiliana from a different perspective than you or I. I understand where they are coming from and what they were/are saying. Some were not given an opportunity to express why they felt the way they did, because they were attacked and put on the defensive! They were not supporters of abortion as they were accused of being, but felt we needed to develop a winning strategy and deal with the abortion issue when it came up. I voted for George Bush twice and I did not agree with him on everything. You aren't going to find a perfect man, and you should certainly use your Congressmen/women to push for what you believe in. The President is one man and can't do anything by himself. Bush has sure played the devil trying to appease Democrats...only to be held in contempt by most of them and betrayed on almost every deal he has made with them!
I really thought the purpose of Free Republic was to have an intelligent discourse on subjects of interest to most of us. I have been disappointed to see the forum reduced to one of such disrespect for people with opposing views that some posters resort to name calling and using vile and filthy language. I enjoy some of the 'smarty' comments that are humorous, and read some posters who disagreed with one another, and in the next post, they were offering helpful suggestions to the one they had just disagreed with. This is the way I would prefer to see Freepers behave, but then again, I don't always get things my way either! Some of the people you condemned as Liberals are very Conservative and good people!
I agree, jveritas has been “most valuable freeper” for the last couple few years. Moreover, I’ve read his posts on this thread, and they seem quite civil.
That’s awesome!
Don't waste your breath, the apologists have gone into 'closed circuit' mode.
Soon they won’t be law breakers.
For the same things this Senate bill is for: money and power.
ap on yahoo
What’s next for immigration deal
Fri May 18
A look at the next steps for an immigration overhaul plan worked out by a bipartisan group of senators and the White House:
SENATE CONSIDERATION
The Senate plans to open debate Monday on the bill and consider amendments throughout next week. Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has set a Memorial Day deadline for completing the measure, but it’s unlikely the complex plan can be finished that quickly.
HOUSE ACTION
Democratic leaders are waiting for the Senate to pass a bill before they consider one in the more-polarized House. They plan to act on immigration in July, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., has told President Bush she won’t bring up a bill unless he can promise at least 70 Republicans will support it.
CONFERENCE
If the House passes a version, House and Senate negotiators would have to blend the two bills into one. The House and Senate then would each have to pass that product. It would then go to Bush for his signature.
ENACTMENT:
Bush has said he’s eager to sign the measure into law by August, when Congress adjourns for four weeks, returning Sept. 4.
Lindsey certainly does look like the type of guy you’d see hanging around an interstate rest stop.
I am hoping the House kills this bill. There is a real possibility that it will die there.
I wonder if Jorge and Alberto blackmailed him.
I was wondering the same thing myself. This just doesn't add up.
Kyl was the tipping point for this whole fiasco. When he endorsed this deal most of the GOP Senators said, "Well, if Kyl's on board that's good enough for me..." and simply capitulated.
You know that it was Kyl who was actually responsible for orchestrating the demise of the Harriet Miers nomination to the SC. I wonder if Bush & Gonzales engineered some sort of "payback".
Republican First Ladies have been the Warshington Dem establishment's stealth weapon in nearly EVERY Repellican administration since Truman!!!
Check this thread out! It's off to a great start!!!
Republican Presidents, the more conservative they have been are simply considered the representative of none one other than "Angry White Males," and is precisely why Finestein and Boxer and Snow and Murray and other female Senators have been pushing "The Year Of The Woman" campaigns!!!
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