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.
I bet there’s a stampede to get in, beginning tonight at dusk.
I also will never vote for anyone who endoresed this. It is treason.
It sure is bigger than 2008. This move is against the will of the people in both parties, but the elites don't care. When they want something, they'll get it. They'll do it with "bipartisan" support, so that the voters have nowhere to go.
I called and e-mailed both of my Senators this morning. After sending a blistering e-mail to Sen. Saxby Chambliss, I read he was one of the Senators who was adamantly against this bill. I then actually called and said thank you. Johnny Isakson on the other hand has chosen to sit this one out!!!!
If you haven’t yet called or written both your senators and your rep, do it NOW! The fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Whining is ok, I do it a lot, but call or write these people first and let them know how you feel whether they be Dems or Repubs.
Just DO IT!
Don’t forget to call the Whitehouse, they were in on this compromise.
Comments: 202-456-1111
“I finally have something the Dems and I agree on - it’s time to bring the troops home.”
You know what. I agree with you. Mt Uncle didn’t die in Italy for this. Mt dad didn’t serve in the Pacific for this and I sure as hell didn’t serve in the Air Force for this!
Please. We ARE stupid. How else to you think we got to this point? Giving away our country without a shot being fired??
The last time this came up it was the Republicans in the House that killed it. Of course, this was before the 2006 elections.
Since most of them (Congress) work more for their re-election, how does this help them? I’ve written to my senator and told him if the Rs can’t stop this, then I will seriously consider dropping the R from my affiliation. The bill is 260 pages long. Do we really think all those little nuances put in there are going to be enforced? This debate should have been before the American people, not behind closed doors. Grrrrrrr.
You know, I might not be all THAT outraged over this bill if the restrictions on future immigration were actually implemented. But does anyone in their right mind think that these 400,000 guest workers who come here each year are going to really go home after 2 years? No, they will just stick around and wait for the next amnesty in a decade or so. And what’s the point of making the border more secure if you let everyone in legally? It’s like strengthening the fence around your hard when your front door is wide open with a “welcome all” sign on it.
I know what you mean. I'm stuck with Boxer and Feinstein, but I'll call too and email every person I know asking them to do the same.
But talk about an exercise in futility.
And we're not? We allowed this to happen. We're sitting on our collective behinds and not doing what is necessary to send these elitists to the unemployment office.
We're not only stupid. We're lazy. Maybe we deserve what we get.
GOod luck with that....I think they took the phone off the hook.
Our fore-fathers worked so hard to establish this Country, but today, we waved the flag of surrender.
God help us.
sw
You’ve got a point. But now the question is. Just what kind of Americans are we? Are we just gonna roll over? What kind country do we want and what are we willing to do about it?
They are already here!
Since 20 million “guests” are here already we should lock the doors for 10 years.....NO ONE COMES IN!
Whore-Hey Arbusto’s new tone is at work here.
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