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Deal struck on immigration bill (in the Senate, now over to the House for action)
AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/17/07 | Julie Hirschfeld Davis - ap

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; buildthewall; bushamnesty; bushobl; cw11; cw2; deal; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; nau; struck; traitors
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To: All
To echo all the posts, everyone must get the word out what happened today, this is against the will of the American Legal majority!

Talk to everyone you meet and get the word out!

Internet, Talk Radio, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, all parties....Now and everyday until this is stopped.

Whats been done here is the planting of a seed that will grow a civil war on the streets of America, and divide people further.

The ramifications & consequences of this decision the politicians won’t have to live with, we will.....................Think about it

181 posted on 05/17/2007 11:07:32 AM PDT by msnpatriot
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To: TomGuy

LOL

zzZZZzzz...


182 posted on 05/17/2007 11:07:45 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... A nation bent on being consigned to the dustbin of history, we weep for thee.)
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To: NormsRevenge

If this passes, and the President signs it, I have already voted for the last Republican I’ll ever vote for.


183 posted on 05/17/2007 11:07:50 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny
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To: NormsRevenge

Let history record this day as the day the Congress and President of the United States of America deserted and abandoned its citizens by choosing to support the desires of corrupt industry and a massive horde of illegal invaders over and above the safety and welfare of the citizenry. May history label each and everyone of them that supported this fiasco as the Benedict Arnold’s they have chosen to become to the American public.


184 posted on 05/17/2007 11:07:57 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (If you're conservative, then support conservative candidates. Support Duncan Hunter for POTUS.)
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To: panthermom

Just saw Chambliss on TV... he looked and sounded pleased as punch, and said that the bill was “... a real compromise...” that he was proud to be part of.


185 posted on 05/17/2007 11:08:49 AM PDT by snowrip (Liberal? YOU ARE A GUTLESS SOCIALIST WITH NO RATIONAL ARGUMENT.)
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To: NormsRevenge

“A spokesman for Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., one of his party’s key players in the talks, confirmed that the group had reached agreement”

Kyl sold out too??
Good Lord!!


186 posted on 05/17/2007 11:09:01 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: Altura Ct.

Apparently, we are. We keep voting for these @$$holes, and not holding them accountable.


187 posted on 05/17/2007 11:09:14 AM PDT by Malacoda (A day without a pi$$ed-off muslim is like a day without sunshine.)
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To: traditional1
What the heck is "AMENSTY"?

Okay, seriously, any details about the language of the bill? It mentioned 'Swimmer' and 'Scottish Law' as big fans of it so I'm not too hopeful.
188 posted on 05/17/2007 11:09:27 AM PDT by BJClinton (WWBJCD?)
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To: PghBaldy
This is bigger than 2008. It is bigger than the Republican Party. This is about what kind of America we will have. The hell with the stupid politics. It’s about whether there will still be an America that we can recognize.

Exactly. And as if the Republican traitors would care if we ever voted for them again. They've got a secured position in the Kremlin lined up for them even if they're never elected again. Plus their glorious pensions. Bastards.

189 posted on 05/17/2007 11:09:28 AM PDT by Lijahsbubbe (Ah don't feeeeel no ways taihrd.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Kyl led the sell out.


190 posted on 05/17/2007 11:09:47 AM PDT by oldbill
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To: Dante3

America is gone- a nation that anyone can join by breaking the law and waiting for amnesty is no nation, but rather a geographical area.

The only thing left is tribalism. And that’s what America will devolve into - a bunch of tribes of people looking out for their tribe’s interests.


191 posted on 05/17/2007 11:10:41 AM PDT by MittFan08 (Anybody but McCain)
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To: TUAN_JIM

“If Bush endorses this”

He does and he will be handsomely paid off for it after 2008. The usual way bribe money is laundered is through “speaking fees.”

All the Senators will get their payoffs from the wage depression lobbies, possibly laundered through ethnic-looking NGOs.

The union leadership sound like idiots, having been scammed by the business lobbies, they are meek and hoping for some more union dues — which little will come.

Conservatives have let Bush/Rove define protecting American here as a “conservative” issue only, scaring non-conservative MSM from investigating the facts.


192 posted on 05/17/2007 11:10:48 AM PDT by Shermy
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Comment #193 Removed by Moderator

To: NormsRevenge

The GOP (Gutless Other Party) striving to elect Hillary.


194 posted on 05/17/2007 11:10:54 AM PDT by JayAr36 (No Party, just a Conservative.)
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To: panthermom
OUR OWN GOVERMENT IS MORE OF AN ENEMY TO US THAN ALL OF THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS GROUPS COMBINED!!!!!!

This should be in ads and billboards across America! worth repeating over and over! May God help us.

195 posted on 05/17/2007 11:11:16 AM PDT by sand88 (q)
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To: CitizenUSA

How do you say, “I just took it in the shorts from my own party, and they used the rock salt lube,” in Spanish?


196 posted on 05/17/2007 11:11:21 AM PDT by Malacoda (A day without a pi$$ed-off muslim is like a day without sunshine.)
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To: All
In three to four weeks, after House confirmation there will be nearing 50 to 60 million of these illegals in here.
Once signed, it will be too late to close the door.....
The one time illegals will come in mass and we will truly be overrun. 100 million is not out of the question within 1 year.
197 posted on 05/17/2007 11:11:38 AM PDT by From One - Many (Trust the Old Media At Your Own Risk)
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To: truthkeeper
"Please. We ARE stupid. How else to you think we got to this point? Giving away our country without a shot being fired??"

Years ago, I used to hear the expression "I'd rather be dead, then wake up Red"..remember that?

Back then, we feared the Russians were going to overtake our country without a shot being fired. "We will take you from within".

Well, it happened today, but it wasn't the Russians.

sw

198 posted on 05/17/2007 11:12:23 AM PDT by spectre (Spectre's wife (Build it and they won't come)
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To: oldbill

“Kyl led the sell out.”

I will wait to judge Kyl until I hear whether the Republicans had the 40 votes to fillibuster this bill. If so, then he sold us out. If we couldn’t have stopped it anyway, then he may have just been getting the best deal he could.


199 posted on 05/17/2007 11:12:39 AM PDT by MittFan08 (Anybody but McCain)
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To: NormsRevenge

Every rhino who votes for this amnesty needs to be replaced with a true conservative asap. Once again we’ve been sold out on a very important issue, despite all polls showing the vast majority of Republicans dead set against this. Might as well just throw open the borders now, this is the second time we’ve sent the message out to illegals that all they have to do is sneak in, wait a few years, and they will be rewarded for ignoring our laws. Disgusting.


200 posted on 05/17/2007 11:13:08 AM PDT by yuta250
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