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.
If Nazi Germany could round up over six million people of Jewish faith and hold them using 1930’s technology, the United States can do a heck of a lot better using 21st Century technology.....
(...and NO, I do not support what Hitler did. I’m discussing ability, not morality...)
More traitors.
These are the top 25 organizations which lobbied Congress on immigration in 2006, and the number of registered lobbyists they had working on the issue (either through a lobbying firm or through staff lobbyists, or both):
You can bet they weren’t lobbying for better enforcement and national security interests.
It’s all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$, pure and simple.
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/issuesum.asp?txtname=Immigration
National Assn of Home Builders
30
Microsoft Corp
25
Accenture
20
American Federation of Govt Employees
20
American Farm Bureau Federation
18
National Assn of Manufacturers
17
Anheuser-Busch
16
Associated Builders & Contractors
15
US Chamber of Commerce
15
Human Rights Campaign
14
Immigration Voice
14
AFL-CIO
13
National Council of La Raza
13
Natl Assn of Public Hosp & Health Sys
13
DSNR Ltd
12
Micron Technology
12
Assn of Independent Research Institutes
10
National Assn Community Health Ctrs
10
Oracle Corp
10
American Resort Development Assn
9
Americans for the Arts
9
Centex Corp
9
Crossmatch Technologies
9
DaimlerChrysler
9
Home Depot
9
Yes I agree too....
What a joke for them.
Not a joke ... it's a total slap in the face of every legal immigrant in this country.
I find the idea of third parties, mad as I may get at the GOP, impractical.
But best of luck to ya.
“Take a good look at your kid and grandkids, they will be paying the price for this in spades”
Amen! Let’s give the same consideration to our posterity that our forefathers gave to us!
jveritas, it’s simply not true that we’d have to have a massive round up to rid ourselves of the illegals. We should start by declaring their children are NOT citizens (no anchor babies) — I understand that is a plausible reading of the citizenship amendments — and then deny them ALL public services: no drivers licenses, no emergency room, no public schools for their children, no bilingual services (learn English or be ignored) nothing at all other than a one way ticket home. Combine with mandatory jail for employers who do not check citizenship using an approved ID system (I know, that sucks, but what else you gonna do?) if employees turn out to be illegal. Penalties for illegals who are caught: permanent expulsion (with a mark that cannot be removed so they can never reenter). Penalties for illegals who commit crimes here: expulsion after long jail sentences. With that kind of program, and perhaps a 90 day grace period for those here illegally to leave without permanent expulsion penalty - leave now and you can get in line to apply to come back, stay and get caught and you’ll never come back, large numbers would leave voluntarily. The work would dry up, the average person who hires and illegal carpenter or gardener would not risk 5 years in jail (mandatory) to save a few bucks. No work, they’d leave in droves.
Which people, Mr. President? Surely you can't mean the American people.
This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty, but without animosity.
Why on earth, by now, does he think anyone believes such a blatant lie? Is he that insulated from reality?
You don’t need to deport all of them. All you need to do is cut off the welfare payments, free medical, food stamps, WIC, free/low-income housing, free schools, and start prosecuting their employers and they will start going back home. Simple.
OMG - too funny! Thanks; I had not noticed where it wound up.
Oh that’s a guarantee.... However, I believe its time to abandon the Republican party. I have had it with them. We need a new political party.
"What's that phone number...I want to call and do the same."
202-863-8500 or 202-863-8747.
Yep.
The field is wide open. Who will it be? I will hold for that individual. All others can pound sand.
1. Greatly increase the border security to stop the flood of illegal immigrant.
2. Grant temporary working status for the illegal immigrants that need to be renewed every 2 years with a fine. The temporary workers must no have access to any welfare program and must no obtain US citizenship in any way, that will be the ulimate penalty they should pay for coming here illegaly. May be the best they can obtain is a Permanent Residence status (Green Card) after they have been law abiding temporary workers for 10 years.
What if, they held an election and NO ONE came? Blackbird.
Thanks for selling out our great Nation, and destroying the Republican party in 2008 and possibly forever.
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