Posted on 06/14/2007 3:55:45 PM PDT by 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.
This “110th Congress” will go down in the history books as the Congress that destroyed the greatest country on earth through their greed for cheap labor and cheap votes in return for uncontrolled illegal immigration.
Dear Trent,
ESAD.
HAHAHA ... The Democrats get exactly what they want... Red meat for the GOP.... I bet they wish this infighting lasts until right before the 08 elections.....Wrong again. They don't. The issue is a winner for Republicans, though a confused field with Bush's position. The "Class of 2006" new dems mostly were tough on enforcement like the Repubs.
bttt
“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.”
Mr. President, how stupid do you think I am? The illegals wouldn’t go back home if we paid them $5,000, let alone them paying us $5,000. You know it, and I know you know it. You simply are trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
Here is a suggestion, SECURE THE BORDERS! Then we can talk about hiring immigrants to do the jobs Americans will not do.
However, the HOUSE keeps the cookie jar.
They ought to rename this bill “Michael Myers” after the Halloween movie murderer that just would not die.
$4.4 billion vs. $500 billion for Iraq. Hey Bush, GFY.
Will Lindsey Graham wear a pink or pale blue tie w/matching light loafers? Forgive me, the bigot in me just let that out.
THE STEPFORD SENATE.
Since they can’t raise a dime, the pubbies can have their convention South of the Border to be with the special class they created. (we are just their ATM on April 15).
Well, voting for the “Lesser of Two Evils” gets you what, again?
Angry beyond words here.......
f*#&k heads!
Yawn.
“The Thing that Wouldn’t Die!”
And like my Italian gramma used to say, "Tanks Gods fer dat!"
Frist was GW’s man. Do I need to say more.
I thought Tony Snow was an honest person,but you know what they say about sleeping with dogs!!!
“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.”
And how long will it take for this money to “gradually” come in so we can use it to enforce the border? Decades? And what about those who don`t want to pay the fines and fees that would be used to enforce the border? We gonna kick them out? We don`t kick them out now! lol Bush could use this as another excuse to not enforce the border,,,not enough money from fees and fines to do it!
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