Senators to Revive Immigration Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) ^ | 06-14-07 | DAVID ESPO

[Alaphiah123]

Key senators tentatively agreed on a plan to revive a stalled immigration bill on Thursday, aided by President Bush's support for a quick $4.4 billion aimed at "securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site."

Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Republican and Democratic supporters of the bill were presenting their proposal to the Senate's top two leaders, who in turn arranged an early evening meeting to discuss it.

Precise details to be presented to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., were not disclosed.

In general, according to officials familiar with the discussions, Republicans and Democrats would each be accorded roughly a dozen chances to amend the measure, with the hope that they would then combine to provide the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster by die-hard opponents. The officials who described the emerging plan did so on condition of anonymity, saying the negotiations had been conducted in private.

The legislation has generated intense controversy, particularly for provisions envisioning eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country unlawfully. The bill also calls for greater border security and a crackdown on the hiring of illegal employees.

"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said, two days after launching a personal rescue mission.

Any agreement is subject to approval by Reid, who has said repeatedly it is up to Bush and Republicans to line up the votes needed to advance the measure if it is to be brought back to the Senate for debate. Reid, who has expressed misgivings about elements of the bill, sidetracked it last week after supporters gained only 45 of the 60 votes needed.

Republicans accounted for only seven of the 45 votes, and Reid said earlier this week, "We'll move on to immigration when they have their own act together."

Bush's decision to personally announce support for the accelerated funding reflected concerns expressed by Republican senators at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. Several told him their constituents doubted the government was capable of following through on a commitment to enforce immigration laws.

In a letter sent to Bush before the meeting, Georgia Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson wrote, "This lack of trust is rooted in the mistakes made in 1986, and the continued chaos surrounding our immigration laws. Understandably, the lack of credibility the federal government has on this issue gives merit to the skepticism of many about future immigration reform."

Under the legislation as drafted, money for border enforcement would be collected gradually as illegal immigrants pay the fines and fees needed to achieve legal status. The letter asked Bush to secure the border before other elements of the immigration measure go into effect, and the president agreed in his remarks to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

"One common concern is whether the government will provide the resources to meet the goals in the bill. They say, 'It's fine to talk about it, are you actually going to do something?'" he said.

"To answer these concerns I support an amendment that will provide $4.4 billion in immediate additional funding for securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site," he said.

"By matching our benchmarks with these critical funds, we're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept."

Two Republican supporters of the legislation, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jon Kyl of Arizona, had previously proposed advanced funding.

"The moment the presidential signing pen meets the paper these funds will be available," Graham said in a statement welcoming Bush's remarks.

But Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., an opponent of the legislation, took a different view. "I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."

Even a decision to return the bill to the Senate floor does not guarantee its passage, given the intense opposition. "We've got people out there on both sides really ready to burn the place down," said Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the second-ranking Republican. "I don't think we ought to let that happen."

The calendar, too, presents obstacles to any attempt to pass the measure before the Senate begins a scheduled vacation in two weeks. Should they choose, critics of the immigration measure could slow progress on other measures Reid wants debated in the next two weeks. The effect would be to further reduce prospects for passage of the immigration bill.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

After the entire first year of Bush’s second term passed with nothing done except full bore pork barrel spending, I told a friend that the only substantive legislation that will be passed in Bush’s entire second term would be this amnesty.

[bamabound]

Just tried to email my senator (Sessions) but... the fed’s server has crashed.

I guess ‘they’ are trying to silence all us loud talkers

Hey, Jeff if your reading this here is what I tried to send you

Dear Senator Sessions,
First of all I want to thank you for your courageous stand on securing our country from invasion. That is the prime role of the federal government. I have enjoyed hearing about your efforts from Rush and Laura and Michelle and reading about you on Free Republic and LGF.

This new wrinkle of a supplemental 4.4 billion to tempt us to change our minds is foolishly tied to the rest of the immigration bill. Let’s build the fence first. Then after it is built (2009) lets revisit the rest of this.

Stand strong Senator! We are praying for you!!

[af_vet_1981]

But Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., an opponent of the legislation, took a different view. "I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."

Amen

I am against Bush policy on immigration.

[sheana]

I just called and left Jim DeMint a huge thank you for his statement today. Told him he was one of the last true Americans left on Capitol Hill.

[southland]

bttt

[bamabound]

I head him on Laura’s show the other day and was very impressed with his LOGIC! I have called all of my reps last week and will try calling again tomorrow to issue my ‘Thanks’

[cva66snipe]

Will someone tell me why Frist was behind Lott becoming #2 in the Senate? It is ridiculous the spineless Senator is back in leadership.

Because Frist as SML was a spineless weasel Liberals lap dog himself just like Lott before him. No matter how bad people wanted to make Frist out to be a conservative it couldn't be done anymore than giving a pig a bubble bath and painting it's toe nails red could make it a Poodle.

Frist was fast tracked to SML because he was a yes man to Bush on all issues right or wrong. He was also a yes man to much of the DEMs agenda as well. Lott=Frist and Frist=Lott no major difference in the overall outcome. BTW look up Columbia Health Care now HCA +Frist on search and you'll understand Frist a lot better. Frist Care=Hillary Care. Don't be shocked about it he was a major backer of it in Tennessee while he was a senator. The state was nearly bankrupt and good old Frist kept helping secure federal funding for it without demanding accountability. Where do you think Frist got his Medicare reform ideas from? It was Hillary.

[Travis McGee]

Do you ever think about your COUNTRY, or is it just me me me, money money money all your life?

Millions of us have raised our right hand, and sworn our sacred honor to uphold and defend the Constitution. So did the President and the Senators.....but now they seem to have sold their souls to some other cause. Some have sold out to corporate contributers, some have sold out for the hope of millions of govt program dependent voters down the road.

Either way, it's a form of treason, whether the motive is greed or power lust.

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Another take on the “vampire bill.”

[Travis McGee]

Great cartoon at 30!!!

[Sender]

$4.4 billion can easily build a 1951-mile chain link fence. Call me when that’s done.

[politicals]

Easy for you to say - hard for you to prove. I know of many small businesses out here in AZ that are owned by Mexicans that have legally immigrated. In virtually every case, these business owners are republicans.

You don’t think the Mexicans are fleeing a failed socialist state? You think they have elected 2 straight business minded conservatives because they like the prior 100 years of socialist corrupt rule?

People make up stories to justify their preconceived notions - try the real world and real solutions. People who work hard - legally - will find success. Catholics/Christians are family oriented hard workers in general. People who find success, generally are or become conservative/republican. Don’t judge Mexican people by what you see in LA Chicano gang bangers - Mexican’s can’t stand them either!!!

[Dante3]

Ditto.

[politicals]

Are you American Indian? Probably not.

If a person in your neighborhood was mistreated and could not adequately provide for their family and came to you (your property) for help - are they invading?

Much like your neighbors, our territorial neighbors as a country deserve slightly different treatment than someone like China or Iran.

Do you think the US will be better off if someone like Lopez Obrador gains control of Mexico - he is a great buddy of Hugo Chavez. Yes our dollars are helping prop up that country and yes it is corrupt, but that doesn’t mean all the people are. They have spoken in 2 straight elections and they deserve our support to preserve a more friendly North America or do you think Hugo would be a good neighbor?

Consider the more complete picture before spouting your ignorance.

[packrat35]

I disagree. I want him embarased and crushed. I want him rendered completely ineffective till the end of his term. I want him utterly and completely neutered politically now and forever.

[ustanker]

You got that right!.....ACLU cant wait for the fight.

[Theodore R.]

This is a wonderful list of ideas. Problem: Too many liberal voters will block us.

[stevie_d_64]

Ellos saben no lo que ellos hacen!

[Theodore R.]

HCA was an answer on Jeopardy tonight, and the contestants did not know that the "H" stands for "Hospital".

[whipitgood]

Nicely put JA. If the politicians get their way, there is a chance that our vote won’t matter a hill of beans next year. Think what effect 20 million new Democrats would have on the US.