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.
It is not over....Whos is the Gov’t...WE ARE!
THEY OWN NOTHING! THEY ARE BUNK WITHOUT THE TAXES AND HARDWORK OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
HOW DARE THEY SELL US OUT!!!!
I AM MAD AS HELL, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!
WE NEED A VOICE TO UNITE US. CAN SOMEONE CALL TANCREDO?
TELL US WHERE AND WHEN WE WILL MARCH!
So that is all what they want?
You are a disgusting racist.
As you are very aware, this issue has nothing, zero to do with race or ethnicity. It has to to do with the shameless flouting of our laws, the leaching of public services for which we pay taxes and they do not, and the introduction of cultural practices which are not compatible with our own American traditions.
If you or I "hop the wire" and gain entry to France or Mexico or Thailand without a passport, without a visa, with no visible steady employment, and not speaking the native language, we will find ourselves detained and jailed in very short order. There will be no empathy whatsoever that we "wanted a better life" (laughable), and no one in their right mind would say the detaining country is treating us "like the Jews".
We'd call it what it is: illegal entry, visa violations, labor violation, and whatever else seems suitable.
You'd be incarcerated until you paid your hefty fine, at which point you'd be deported at State Department expense post haste (you'd have to sign a promissorey note to the local U.S. embassy).
So there's the reality of it as understaood by sane people. Your own allegations are either insane or deliberately inflammatory, in other words a troll.
It’s pretty clear the the GOP Senate are mostly RINOs that will sell the Party and people out in a heartbeat. If we can’t purge them in the primaries, then it’s time to abandon the GOP and start a new party.
The only "hate" I harbor on this issue is my anger against those invading my country and those who are enabling that invasion.
And, you haven't even applied for citizenship? Egad! Enjoy the benefits without the responsibilities. I'm all for legal immigration, and legal immigrants becoming citizens and being regarded on exactly the same basis as those of us whose ancestors have been here since the first half of the 17th century, but, until you become a citizen, it's our country and we'll thank you to let us run it.
That is a totally unwarranted insult to MinuteGal and most others posting here. You truly have a twisted view of those who passionately want our Republic to survive. Taking aways the incentives and securing the borders would have solved the problem -- the solution most here support. You on the other hand think we want to view them as the Nazis viewed Jews. That is a sick thought to hold. That is such an elitist and downright insulting comment. You should apologize for such an offensive comment.
Chertoff was just on Sean Hannity’s Radio show tapdancing. He was supposed to be on for a segment, but was only on a couple of minutes, and when Sean got a bit tough with him he “had to go”. Hopefully the administration and the Republicans invlolved will get the message that many of us are REALLY unhappy with this bill!!
Rant off.....hope all is well with you! ;>)
If I am lying I would have lied from the beginning and told you that I am already a US citizen. I do not lie and I told you the truth as it is because I am not afraid of a hate filled person like yourself. You have no shame.
OUR BOYS/GALS IN UNIFORM HAVE THE GUTS TO FIGHT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, FOR THE FREEDOM OF PEOPLE THEY DONT EVEN KNOW.
AND WE SIT BY AND DO NOTHING...WHILE THEY SELL OUT THE VERY COUNTRY THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR?
IT MAKES NO SENCE.....WE MUST DO SOMETHING...NOW!!!!!!
Yep. They are drunk with power and money. Thats why they don’t give a $hit about us.
That word is used much too freely. I would never call someone a racist or any other type of bigot unless I had clear and compelling evidence that that person actually was a racist. And then I would take a step back and see if there was any way that I misinterpreted his or her statements and wasn't just projecting my anger. I suggest you do the same.
THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WORDS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ACTION!!!!
WE MUST MARCH!!
Well events speed up and slow down...today was a huge speed up....the Illegal Alien Amnesty Law passed the senate today.... it will ensure the destruction of the Middle Class in America.....the 12 Million Illegals will turn out to be 50-60 million and we won’t see a republican in the white house or a republican congress ever again.
Taxes will, in the next 5 years reach the levels found in the EU.....and public services will decline in quality....the socialist bureaucracy will begin to grow and become less efficient.
Alarming in some ways but also a sign of the times.
Come Quickly Lord
Do what I did, send an e-mail to McConnel and explain why there will be no RNC donations this cycle and maybe next. If it’s one thing they do understand it’s money.
I have done that on every issue survey that was sent to me from Hastert and Dole! They probably open our responses to collect the checks that were inserted and nothing else. They sure haven’t been responding to these surveys. Not only that but the survey sections on illegal immigration were totally absent.
Patience. :-)
What a cosmos, full of all kinds of “oddities”.
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