Posted on 06/07/2007 9:10:00 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A broad immigration bill to legalize millions of people in the U.S. unlawfully failed a crucial test vote in the Senate Thursday, a stunning setback that could spell its defeat for the year.
The vote was 45-50 against limiting debate on the bill, 15 short of the 60 that the bill's supporters needed to prevail. Most Republicans voted to block Democrats' efforts to bring the bill to a final vote.
The legislation, which had been endorsed by President Bush, would tighten borders, institute a new system to prevent employers from hiring undocumented workers in addition to giving up to 12 million illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status.
Conceived by an improbable coalition that nicknamed the deal a "grand bargain," the measure exposed deep rifts within both parties and is loathed by most GOP conservatives.
Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., who had made no secret of his distaste for parts of the bill, said earlier he would move on to other matters if the immigration measure's supporters didn't get 60 votes Thursday night.
The defeat set off a bitter round of partisan recriminations, with Democrats and Republicans each accusing the other of killing it.
Most Republicans voted against ending debate, saying they needed more time to make the bill tougher with tighter border security measures and a more arduous legalization process for unlawful immigrants.
All but a handful of Democrats supported the move, but they, too, were holding their noses at provisions of the bill. Many of them argued it makes second-class citizens of a new crop of temporary workers and rips apart families by prioritizing employability over blood ties in future immigration.
Still, they had argued that the measure, on balance, was worth advancing.
"We can all find different aspects of this legislation that we differ with," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the leading Democratic architect of the bill.
Reid, who had made no secret of his distaste for parts of the bill, quickly pulled it from the floor and moved on to other business, costing the measure perhaps its best chance at enactment.
He insisted that the immigration bill is not dead for the year. "I, even though disappointed, look forward to passing this bill," Reid said.
RIGHT ON but now do you want to hear the bad news we will have to keep this up everytime a bill like this comes up WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Make your Stage Two into Stage One, then get rid of minimum wage.
Nice work, FRiend. The remaining Good Guys can build this into 2008, if we can finish that stupid fence.
Unbelievable day. Cornyn Amendment dissenters really stand out.
Stunning? Stunning for whom? The media maybe? Liberal politicians perhaps?
Univision has it as the great tragedy of our time. Lastima.
The got turned back on the war funding two weeks ago, too.
(the fence isn’t stupid. The incompetence and lack of progress is. For the record.)
Stunning to the liberal/left media that thought they gave this garbage enough cover to confuse people to apathy.
They failed and they are shocked. The people organized via the facts on the net strikes again.
I say that as I have the bill on my desktop and I know I’m not the only one.
I started hoping so from previous work he's done.
"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
It’s the “Loud People’s” fault.
Or their race or background for that matter. It’s a victory for hispanics born here and legal immigrants who waited on line. A victory for blacks etc. etc. etc.
It was a victory for hardworking Americans no matter their party affiliation!
Can we once say the HELL with the party and say good for the United States of America ???
Yes, we sure can my fellow American. Cheers. Nation before party.
#20
i voted 2x for the bush-boy in the white house,
and i’m very disappointed.
This bill never had a serious chance to begin with.
There will never be another attempt at this third rail in our lifetime. What politician would be that foolish again? The next 20 Presidents will do what the last 20 have done with the Mexican border. Nobody will want to be the next GW.
Pray for W and Our Troops
It was the mobilized loud NO of this crappy bill's very vocal and very numerous opponents that killed it today.
When George Bush, and Harry Reid, and Ted Kennedy, and John McCain try to ram this crap through as The Baby Milk Factory Strengthening Act of 2007, we'll be ready.
Go ahead, punks, make our day.
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