Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rare Tactic May Allow Immigration Votes
The Washington Post ^ | June 18, 2007 | JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS

Posted on 06/18/2007 4:06:55 PM PDT by Baladas

WASHINGTON -- Only in the arcane world of the U.S. Senate could a quirky gambit known as a "clay pigeon" make the difference between passage of an important immigration measure and its death at the hands of opponents.

Democratic leaders hope the complex maneuver _ which makes use of the Senate's labyrinthine rules to insist on votes on amendments _ will frustrate conservatives' attempts to derail the embattled immigration bill, instead putting it on a fast track to passage next week.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would revive the bill to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants late this week. To do so, though, he needs backing from 60 senators, and a way to guarantee votes on a tentative list of 22 Republican and Democratic amendments whose consideration is seen as vital to satisfying key waverers.

The tactic gets its name from the target used in skeet shooting, which explodes into bits as it is hit. In the Senate, an amendment is the target, and any one senator can demand that it be divided into separate fragments to be voted on piecemeal.

Under the tentative plan, Reid as early as Friday would launch his target _ an amendment encompassing all 22 proposals _ and shoot it into its component pieces. The Senate would then vote on ending debate on the immigration measure, which would take 60 votes and limit discussion of the bill to 30 more hours. After that interval, all 22 amendments would have to be voted on, with little opportunity for foes to interfere.

Ironically, the move is usually used by mavericks _ not leaders _ to slow down legislation, not free it from a procedural thicket.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: amnesty; claypigeon; democrats; harryreid; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist; liberals; noamnestyforillegals; reid; senatoialprocedures; smokeybackroom; tyranny; vampirebill
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
A novel strategy to defeat the will of the American people. We're watching you, Harry.
1 posted on 06/18/2007 4:06:58 PM PDT by Baladas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: gubamyster

Ping


2 posted on 06/18/2007 4:17:42 PM PDT by EdReform (The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed *NRA*JPFO*SAF *GOA*SAS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

“legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants”

Try 20 million.


3 posted on 06/18/2007 4:19:28 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

Like he gives a rip!


4 posted on 06/18/2007 4:21:40 PM PDT by mtnwmn (mtnwmn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

It is always

“Immigrant” instead of illegal

12 million instead of at least 20 million.


5 posted on 06/18/2007 4:21:55 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

6 posted on 06/18/2007 4:28:37 PM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baladas
Reid is trying to stuff this bill right down our throats.

My contempt for him and those Senators trying to do this immense.

7 posted on 06/18/2007 4:29:51 PM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

bump

This is a repulsive tactic. They’ve already done this without any hearings. Wrap your mind around that. No cost estimates, no testimony, no investigation, no staff work . . . just boom, here’s a bill, let’s pass it, only your nation is at stake.


8 posted on 06/18/2007 4:30:48 PM PDT by Greg F (<><)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Write all the casinos in Nevada and tell them you won’t set foot in them as long as the state of Nevada has a traitor representing them and a sleaze bag senator who is attempting to destroy our nation.


9 posted on 06/18/2007 4:33:54 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

Who really knows, could be 30 - 40 million! Everyone of them is a law-breaker and knows it. What type of citizens will they become?


10 posted on 06/18/2007 4:37:54 PM PDT by rollin (q)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

Ironically, the move is usually used by mavericks _ not leaders _
***Well, the US Senate has become a bunch of “mavericks _not leaders_ “ so why should we expect any different?


11 posted on 06/18/2007 4:46:01 PM PDT by Kevmo (We need to get away from the Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party ~Duncan Hunter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baladas

This is why the cloture vote is the key one.


12 posted on 06/18/2007 4:47:46 PM PDT by Ingtar (...right wing conservatives are growing tired of crawling on bloody stumps looking for scraps - JRob)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ExTexasRedhead

Had wanted to go to Las Vegas for most of my adult life, but after hearing about the surge in gange violence(covered up by the local media), and the big population of Illegals, I am going to spend my money elsewhere.


13 posted on 06/18/2007 4:54:13 PM PDT by Post-Neolithic (Money only makes Communists rich Communists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Baladas
Wesley Denton, a spokesman for Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., called the plan a "stunning" effort by Reid "to choke off debate and handpick amendments." He threatened that Republicans would unleash the same tactic on the majority in the future.

Jim DeMint BUMP!

Well, it will be interesting to see how this is countered. Sounds like we need to really pick up the pace on calling/faxing/emailing. I understand some of the wimps have turned off their fax machines and turned on voice mail. And I doubt they're checking email.

Aren't you glad our legislators, who work for US, are bending over backwards and really going the extra mile to get our input on this legislation?

14 posted on 06/18/2007 4:56:19 PM PDT by upchuck (IMPORTANT! -> Immigration: What the Deal-Makers don't want you to know -> http://tinyurl.com/2pwp6o)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Greg F
This is a repulsive tactic. They’ve already done this without any hearings. Wrap your mind around that. No cost estimates, no testimony, no investigation, no staff work . . . just boom, here’s a bill, let’s pass it, only your nation is at stake.

And waive the budget act to be able to vote on it! That's what they had to do last week.

15 posted on 06/18/2007 4:59:16 PM PDT by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: upchuck

888-534-6226 capital switchboard. not turned off. ever. :0)


16 posted on 06/18/2007 5:02:24 PM PDT by Principled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

Government stats?
Double, triple!

Bush is a traitor. I don’t give a “hoot” what
his father said about, “beautiful, brown skin.”
Bush is Connecticut traitor with a Texas accent.

He’s trash. So is his pinhead father.
Bad bushes produce bad fruit.


17 posted on 06/18/2007 5:03:02 PM PDT by smb30
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AuntB

I don’t understand how this tactic gives any advantage.


18 posted on 06/18/2007 5:03:18 PM PDT by Principled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Baladas
Seems to me, that tactic would be more like a suicide bomb, than a clay pidgeon.
19 posted on 06/18/2007 5:06:01 PM PDT by unspun (What do you think? Please think, before you answer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

Try 30 million.


20 posted on 06/18/2007 5:06:16 PM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson