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.
Every bus will hold over 50 at a time. That’s only 200,000 trips. Greyhound could handle it.
I was lucky enough to meet one ex-President years ago. It was acually kind of cool to say “Good evening, Mr. President.” I’ve always told myself that I’d say the same to any ex-president, even if (gag!) I stumbled across one of the two C’s. If I ever meet this president, I will say the following:
Beunos dias, Senor Presidente!
I’m completely serious...the honor that the office deserves, the truth that he deserves.
He says this will solve the problem without animosity and without amnesty. Once again, he’s wrong. He’s getting both!
No way! Let the f'ing liberals leave or get kicked out of the Republican Party. I'm not going to give up my party without one hell of a fight!
McCain looks like he’s trying to hide behind Fat Ted, and failing.
If your business can only survive with illegal labor, you shouldn’t be in business. And yes, all it would take is a few big fines and maybe some jail time before businesses got the picture.
And I will tell you again, this will bite these businessmen in the ass. It is not so much the labor costs that business owners keep illegals, it’s the fact they don’t have all the expenses related to hiring legal workers. No insurance, no workman’s comp, no recourse for firing them. Well, once they are legal you can bet they won’t be cheap anymore!
I heard Russia will take 1 prisoner in Siberia for $65 a week. I would be more than happy to see the tax payers pay for this. Its a worth wild investment. Just think of it as preserving our culture.
This is ALL about economics, always has been. Why are the "political donor" class clamoring for more high-teck workers every year? The more foreign teck workers the "political donor class" can get into the country the lower the pay of all teck workers.
This problem can be placed at the feet of the greedy, who would sell out America for an extra 1/2% return on investment.
Now imagine the ripple effect on the economy that "an unlimited supply of $8 an hour workers" has on an economy? Ask anyone with a background in economics what happens when supply is increased, then ask what happens when supply is unlimited.
We are being screwed by the politicians who owe all the the 'employer/political donor' class.
Call me what you will, but I do know that you need wealthy people to live in a wealthy country. I suffer no "class envy", but I believe the game is now being rigged by those with the money to rig the system.
I have heard the LIE spoken from the mouth of our president, whom I may add I walked precincts for in the last 2 general elections, "they are just doing the jobs Americans do not want to do".
The truth is simply "Why pay the wages an American would demand when a criminal immigrant would do this job for $8 an hour".
This could be the death of the middle class, IMHO. This is ALL about keeping wages down for the majority for the benefit of the minority.
The automatrons spouting the 'we can't send them all home' line are but useful idiots, tools if you will.
Yeah. Even Teddy can't hide that fat head.
Works for me...let's roll! Road trip -- one way tix only.
It's BIG $$$$$$$$$'s for the elite. Always follow the money. Blackbird.
I just did the same thing and was told the same as you. The lady said that the vast majority of calls today were opposed to this plan.
What, blind people? People who don't understand demographics or economics? People who think offshoring skilled labor and importing unskilled labor is a good idea and won't drive the blue-collar, Reagan Democrats into the arms of the current Democrat party (see '06 elections in OH, CO, PA)?
“There is not a single country I’m aware of that would permit this flouting of its laws the way we have over the last 25 years.
In fact, if I behaved in another country the way illegal Mexicans and Salvadoreans do in ours, I’d be in jail”
CORRECT!!
No let the person who is suggesting deporting 12 million illegal immigrants tell us how it can be done.
Nice post Jack Black.
Once you say that we really can't deport illegal immigrants then there is really no point in having immigration laws in the first place. Why should anyone who seriously considering immigrating to this country give any thought about trying to follow our laws...?
I thought you left the Republican party long time ago? Did you lie when you were saying so day in and day out?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.