Posted on 06/23/2007 3:39:30 PM PDT by Baladas
Washington, D.C. (AHN)-President George Bush called on Congress to muster the "political courage" to pass an immigration overhaul that has foundered for weeks in the U.S. Senate.
"We have an obligation to solve problems that have been piling up for decades," President Bush said in his weekly radio address. "The status quo is unacceptable."
The proposed legislation, drafted by a small group of senators and White House negotiators, would create a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million immigrants in the United States illegally.
The proposal has been derided by opponents as an amnesty program. Among the sticking points is a provision that would allow illegal immigrants who entered the country before Jan. 1 to apply for Z visas, which would enable them to live and work in the United States legally.
Critics have also charged that the bill does not do enough to secure the nation's borders.
"I understand that many Americans have concerns about immigration reform - especially about the federal government's ability to secure the border," President Bush said. "So this bill puts the enforcement tools in place first."
On June 26, to move the bill forward, 60 senators will have to vote to resume debate on the politically contentious issue.
To attract the 15 additional votes needed to advance the bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has suggested that the Democratic and Republican caucuses would each be able to put forth 12 amendments.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, speaking to Bloomberg Television on Friday, said Republican support of the proposal is waning, despite it being one of the President's top domestic priorities.
"We're beginning to see some of the people that would have ordinarily voted to proceed with the bill to say, `hey, this process is not fair, it's not transparent,''' Senator Cornyn said.
Among those Republicans who Senator Cornyn cited: Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
No but they are ducks, and ducks float.
Hey Dubya—we don’t want this country to merge with Mehico—got it? Move there if you love it so much...
“W” has lost his mind....Courage??..To pass this?
Easy for him to say, he'll never stand for re-election again and will make millions in future speaking engagements and stints on the Carlyle Group board of directors. All the while having taxpayer-funded SS protection so he never has to deal with the impact of the shamnesty he and his corporate boosters want so badly.
More like "Follow me to political suicide."
W needs to muster the courage to do what we hired him to do:Enforce the laws of these United States and deport these invading criminals.
He seems to be enabling crime and murder of these Illegal Aliens.
W seems to be to the left of IKE.
Has anyone offered a rational excuse for not following existing laws?
"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
“...Bush called on Congress to muster the “political courage”...
Oh,oh. Bush just called Congress a bunch of pendejos (meaning cowards, fools).
Of course, they are pendejos, and crooks too, but George shouldn’t have called them that since he needs their help.
It’s actually depressing how much I’m beginning to loathe the President and his intransigence on this issue.
The key members of the Federal Government Party will all be reelected, regardless of what happens with this bill. And they know it.
Oh, I thought you heard. “They are too hard too enforce” so we need new ones.
When I retire,I’m going to have to count on the Social Security I’ve been paying for ALL my working life. You know the same program these illegals are going to be collecting off of. I wonder if GW is going to be collecting off of it when he retires ???
Marcus Tullius Cicero
No way Bush and Senators. No amnesty period. Build the fence and deport the illegals.
Keep having this nagging feeling that Hill and Bill are involved. Wonder how?
Courage is what they need in the face of their enemy: The American Voter.
“Sir,...no, sir. You can go to hell, sir. It’s the best I can do for you, sir.”
Apologies to Jack London
“I wonder if GW is going to be collecting off of it when he retires ???”
You’re kidding, right?
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