Posted on 06/06/2007 5:06:45 AM PDT by IrishMike
WASHINGTON, June 5 — The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, said Tuesday that he would try to force an end to debate on a comprehensive immigration bill, leaving the fate of the legislation in question.
Mr. Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said the Senate would vote Thursday on whether to limit debate, a process that requires 60 votes to succeed. He said he would pull the bill if he failed to get the necessary votes.
The majority leader said he wanted to complete work on the legislation this week, and he suggested that Republicans were trying to “stall this bill” with amendments. “People are looking for excuses on the Republican side to kill this bill,” he said.
His announcement provoked an outcry from Republican supporters and opponents of the bill, who said the Senate needed more time.
Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, the chief Republican architect of the bill, said “it would be a big mistake” to try to invoke cloture this week.
A motion to cut off debate would be “an extreme act of bad faith,” Mr. Kyl said, and he asserted on Tuesday afternoon that “we are not anywhere near finishing this bill.”
The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said, “The overwhelming majority of our conference would insist on having additional days to make sure that all of our important amendments have been given an opportunity to be considered.”
Even Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida, a strong supporter of the bill, said, “I would not support cloture at this point because I don’t think that enough of our members have had an opportunity to have their amendments heard.”
Behind the scenes, senators were trying to work out agreements on what amendments to consider, so the legislation would not fail on a motion to limit debate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Do we have 41 votes?
Better question: Do we have 41 Senators left with any sense whatsoever?
He said he would pull the bill if he failed to get the necessary votes.
Fine, whatever it takes.
We do, this is going down.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
bttt
Nowhere in the entire article does it even begin to mention what the general public’s reaction has been.
I think he said he would pull Bill’s finger (or something else)
Jeez. A 600 page bill needs more amendments? These people are out of control, folks. It's time for term limits, pure and simple.
Get these SOB's out of power. The road to the destruction of the U.S. is paved with "amendments".
I am curious what the democratic voters have been telling their Senators. I don’t think all is rosy with on that side of the aisle either. He may just want to pull it after it has fractured the Republican base, in fact that may have been his plan from the start. Too bad some Republican Senators got trapped by their stupidity and self serving arrogance.
Not to mention that Coleman's on sanctuary cities got voted down, and Cornyn's hasn't even come up for a vote.
Sounds like “Coitus Interuptousâ€Harry my find it feels too good.
It ain't.
And for any 'Rats thinking of voting for this charlie foxtrot, I've got three words: Remember Lou Barletta.
Yes and no, it seems WE need a Constitutional Amendment for term limits and recall of Congress when they fail to represent us. Its past time and it is up to us to do it now while the cause is fired up.
No, it’s a very good thing. Now we know who the open borders people are among the Republicans and we can work to get them out.
General public?
Oh, you mean American Citizens that have the legal right to vote, gotcha.
What would they have to do with this?
< /tard >
My thoughts exactly.
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.