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Senators to Revive Immigration Bill
WASHINGTON (AP) ^ | 06-14-07 | DAVID ESPO

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; border; civilwar2; congressmorons; immigrantlist; immigration; jorgearbusto; revived; s1348; senate; shamnesty; sovereignty; thisbilljustwontdie; vampirebill
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To: realpatriot

Is that anatomically possible?


81 posted on 06/14/2007 4:40:49 PM PDT by Cedric
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To: Snoopers-868th
"The height of arrogance."

and ugly cynicism.

82 posted on 06/14/2007 4:42:27 PM PDT by teawithmisswilliams (Basta, already!)
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To: floriduh voter
Do they really think it's not too late for them to show us that real border security and law enforcement are not politico's afterthoughts, put out there for the lip service?
83 posted on 06/14/2007 4:42:29 PM PDT by unspun (What do you think? Please think, before you answer.)
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To: Cedric

Thanks! I really needed a laugh!


84 posted on 06/14/2007 4:42:53 PM PDT by realpatriot (Some spelling errers entionally included!)
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To: hoosierham
We need to stay focused on the battle at hand: Stopping this amnesty abomination—again.

And we need president Bush right where he is!

85 posted on 06/14/2007 4:44:32 PM PDT by Cedric
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To: Czar; Borax Queen
"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said

You mean, just like all the ones that were kept the last time amnesty was given? Just like how all the current immigration laws are enforced?

86 posted on 06/14/2007 4:44:32 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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Comment #87 Removed by Moderator

To: Czar

Put a full battalion of SeaBees on the border to build the fence and Bingo! it’ll get done faster than La Raza could believe.


88 posted on 06/14/2007 4:46:41 PM PDT by B4Ranch (DRIP = "Don't Return Incumbent Politicians," – two terms, and they're out.)
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To: Squantos

like Bush would flippantly say...caigalo aqui vato!


89 posted on 06/14/2007 4:46:51 PM PDT by wardaddy (on supervised release)
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To: Alaphiah123
THEY CAN’T HEAR US PEOPLE!!!!!! LETS GIVE THEM A DOUBLE DOSE OF WHAT THEY HAD BEFORE!!!!! Their arrogance is deafening, WE THE PEOPLE VOTED THESE KNUCKLEHEADS IN AND THIER SPITTING IN OUR FACES 2008 election is going to be one exciting spectacle, and don't think for one minute that we have forgotten all who have supported this amnesty bill your turn for re election will be coming soon!
90 posted on 06/14/2007 4:48:13 PM PDT by ronnie raygun (I'd rather be hunting with dick than driving with ted)
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To: nicmarlo

God but he’s clueless, isn’t he?


91 posted on 06/14/2007 4:48:52 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: Alaphiah123

“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.”

In other words, Never.

What an absolute joke.


92 posted on 06/14/2007 4:49:54 PM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: Czar

Totally!

I wonder....do you think he’s had a lobotomy or something?


93 posted on 06/14/2007 4:49:57 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: B4Ranch
"Put a full battalion of SeaBees on the border to build the fence and Bingo! it’ll get done faster than La Raza could believe."

The last thing Bush wants is strict border enforcement. Ain't gonna happen--especially if he promises us it will.

My distrust of the federal government, including Bush and the White House, is now so wide and deep that I trust them on nothing.

Nothing.

94 posted on 06/14/2007 4:52:10 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: realpatriot

Strategically, this is a golden opportunity. If we defeat and, thus, humiliate Bush in this titanic battle he will be marginalized for the rest of his term and a pariah in his own party. And the resultant and enduring message will be: Don’t mess with Conservatives!


95 posted on 06/14/2007 4:53:03 PM PDT by Cedric
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To: Alaphiah123
Mr. Bush,

U've laid your bed, now bend-over & prepare for Impeachment.

96 posted on 06/14/2007 4:54:06 PM PDT by babbabooey
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To: ronnie raygun
You have my attention Ronnie. Going in tomorrow with a blaze...Email, phone calls, letters.

Wish I could hire a sky writing pilot.

97 posted on 06/14/2007 4:54:18 PM PDT by Afronaut (Press 2 for English - Thanks Mr. President !)
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To: Alaphiah123

It’s amazing that the president seems to believe that he has any credibility. He is the weakest president in a long, long time, and seems unable to grasp that fact.


98 posted on 06/14/2007 4:55:49 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("Lord, give me chastity and temperance, but not now." - St. Augustine)
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To: Theodore R.

Mitch McConnell BETTER be on OUR side.


99 posted on 06/14/2007 4:56:04 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her Phoniness is Genuine!!!)
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To: Cedric
Of all the times we wished for Bush to show resolve ,THIS is one time I want him to think "well,maybe I ought to listen to the folks,I could be mistaken".
100 posted on 06/14/2007 4:56:27 PM PDT by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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