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.
That is what it will take to win.
Maybe Kyl isn’t his own man but takes dictation from his AZ colleague.
Looking at this list again, Mark Dayton isn’t in the Senate any more, though his clone, Amy Klobuchar, unfortunately is.
That said, ol’ Norm still ain’t too keen on re-election. THAT much hasn’t changed.
Mue’ Bueno!!!
Andale’ Arriba!!!
Sorry, I don’t have my spanish keyboard configured effectively yet...
Thanks for the list. I am surprised that as many as four Democrats actually voted against this amnesty — I would have guessed that it had 100% support from the Democrats.
They're all w****s. The House is our only hope now.
Good for you. I have contacted one of my Senators and plan to contact the other and my representative as well. They are Republicans but seems it doesn't matter much these days.
No matter what a failure he is, people in SC still believe in Lindsay Graham. They have incumbent-itis in SC, I guess.
This is hilarious...they are asking them specific questions, and the Senator just walks off state mumbling.
What about the anchor baby problem for these newly legalized people?
Also, what is to stop Joe Iranian, who works for Al Queda, but who has been here illegally for a couple of years, after having crossed the Mexican-USA border, from now claiming to be Joe Mexican without any papers and assuming a new identity?
You are right on the money with that description. I wish more people would realize it.
I called boxer and feinstein. I don’t think they cared. The girl at boxer was a snot.
My question to you all is this: How on EARTH does Congress do this and GWB as well??? American people have said the absolutely do NOT want this...so what is the big push for this bill? Who is saying it is necessary??
Malacoda wrote: “How do you say, “I just took it in the shorts from my own party, and they used the rock salt lube,” in Spanish?”
I’m sorry to say I’ve only recently realized the glorious benefits of a bilingual US and unrestrained immigration. It looks like I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, starting with Spanish language classes.
What you said.
Gather guns and ammunition for your children and teach them to live or die using them.
Sadly, we have lost our voice in politics to 20 million illegal uneducated foreigners for whom we will have the pleasure of being allowed to work and pay taxes to support.
How do you say, “I just took it in the shorts from my own party, and they used the rock salt lube,” in Spanish?
“Acabo de tomar en los calzones de mi propio partido, y ellos utilizaron el lubricante de sal gema.”
www.freetranslation.com will come in handy as we learn our new language.
He said they don’t control every district and they don’t have to. Like owning enough stock in a company to have a controlling interest, power brokers need only control a certain number of representatives in Congress.
That’s the way it is. And if you think about it for less than a minute you know it’s true.
I now realize the federal government no longer represents the people of America, that those “elected” are less deserving of Americans’ respect than a DC bum.
That is not a current voting roll call, a lot of those senators are not there anymore.
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