A landmark attempt to reform US immigration laws and grant a path to citizenship for around 12 million illegal immigrants faces its most crucial test yet in a moment of high political drama Thursday.
Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has scheduled a device known as a cloture vote on limiting time for debate on the package, in an effort to force it through the Senate this week.
Republicans, many of whom are under intense pressure from conservative supporters over the bill, have however complained that Reid’s move would thwart a sheaf of amendments they wish to debate, and want more time.
Reid needs 60 votes to move the bill forward in the closely divided Senate. He has said he would shelve the legislation if the cloture vote fails.
That could be fatal for the bill, as any attempt to bring it back to the Senate floor later this year or early next year would mean it would land square in the political maelstrom of congressional and presidential elections in 2008.
this is key...kill it now and it will get voted on in 11/08
It's a sham...open borders for at least two to three more years because the fence will never be funded if this is killed.
it would be a rare win to see this POS go down, but the sad fact that this suicidal amnesty bill got this far is a bad sign. rough times ahead.