Americans For Immigration Reform and Enforcement
If you wish to be added to, or removed from, this ping list please notify me.
Posted on 06/26/2007 2:40:39 PM PDT by hardback
Senate may vote on immigration reform measure FridayBy Fawn Johnson CongressDaily Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, intends to file a second cloture petition Tuesday on a sweeping immigration measure, setting up a Thursday vote to limit debate.
If that motion is approved, a final vote would occur Friday, possibly after a "vote-a-rama" on amendments, Democratic leadership aides said Monday. The Senate will vote on a separate cloture motion Tuesday and -- assuming it passes, and several insiders predict it will -- the next step for Reid would be to offer his omnibus amendment that contains all the Democratic and Republican proposals that will receive votes this week.
Aides said the timing and order of the amendment votes is being negotiated. Republicans want to vote on several amendments before Thursday's cloture vote. Many of their decisions on whether to support the second cloture motion depend on whether certain amendments pass.
Immigrant advocates are reviewing an enforcement amendment that is considered critical to Republican support. The amendment by Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl of Arizona and Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., would require illegal immigrants seeking a "Z" visa to return to their home countries and receive certification at a U.S. consulate.
The earlier "touchback" raises questions about whether the legalization program would work. Angela Kelly, deputy director of the advocacy group National Immigration Forum, said illegal immigrants must have confidence in the program for it to work. "If there's one thing that rattles people's nerves, it's dealing with their consulates," she said.
Still, immigrant advocates know that keeping the immigration bill alive depends on attracting enough Republican support. NIF has yet to take a position on the amendment.
Negotiators are still attempting to determine how to handle two amendments on H-1B visas -- one from Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that would tighten restrictions on employers using the high-tech guestworker program and another from Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Kyl that would increase the number of annual H-1Bs.
Durbin and the high-tech industry have been trading proposals for over a week on how to meld the two H-1B amendments into one proposal, but they might not have succeeded. A Durbin aide said this afternoon that Durbin's proposal would receive a separate vote from the Cantwell-Kyl proposal. The Cantwell-Kyl proposal will be folded into the broader Kyl-Graham-Martinez enforcement amendment.
The Durbin amendment would bar employers from hiring more than 30 percent of H-1B visa holders at the lowest of four skill levels. A counterproposal from Compete America, a coalition lobbying for access to H-1B workers, would give the Labor secretary authority to investigate any employer whose H-1B workforce exceeds 30 percent in the lowest skill level.
"Thirty percent is an artificial barrier," said Robert Hoffman, Oracle vice president of government and public affairs.
While Compete America is troubled by some of Durbin's proposal, it is lobbying heavily for the adoption of the Cantwell-Kyl amendment. "If Cantwell-Kyl is adopted, we're urging members to support the bill," Hoffman said.
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
So we know that they are prostitutes, all we are waiting for is a an agreement on price.
24 Senate Amendments are up! http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/congressdaily/extra/2007/am-j26-immigration.pdf
This country is going to hell in a handbasket. The H1B scam should be a separate bill from the immigration fiasco. They’re trying to ram everything through...and never once considering the cultural implications of their actions. The selling out of America continues...the founding fathers crying in their graves.
Forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but doesn’t this bill also have to get past the House before Bush has a chance to sign it?
I don’t recall it passing over there yet.
It will stall out by the end of this week....when the next closure vote (the real one) comes up....
This country is going to hell in a handbasket.
:::::
If these ass-clowns think this is something that is going to be forgotten, they are in for a major awakening.
The House is more subject to arm-twisting and deals than the Senate. There isn’t the possibility of a procedural roadblock there, due to the streamlined legislative process. If it passes the Senate, count on it to sail through the House.
>>This bill is not going to make it out of the Senate.
What gives you such confidence?
Better yet: I just called the RNC and told them to remove me from the membership - I will NOT be giving to them again. Phone: 202.863.8500. Hurt them in the wallet. This type of pressure might hurt more.
When you call the RNC, press 2 for political and you will get a human being (during business hours).
“The House is more subject to arm-twisting and deals than the Senate. There isn’t the possibility of a procedural roadblock there, due to the streamlined legislative process. If it passes the Senate, count on it to sail through the House.”
The difference being, if it is to pass in the House pelosi et al don’t want it to be a “democrat” bill, they want Republican votes as well, which is good, we can throw those bums out faster.
Now if they vote on these amendments - Some will very likely pass - Once that happens, the bipartisan group which came together implodes = The bill doesn't pass and likely doesn't even pass the next closure vote either.
The Senate is full of drama queens. They love being the center of attention right now. They love the TV hype. If they voted no on closure today....all that ends.
They kept it going for a few more days....for another round of weekend TV shows / hype. It will all come back down to reality this Friday or early next week.
I really don't see this going anywhere.
Dream on.
This bill was fixed from the start. The Treasury is wide open to bribe these Senators for whatever they want. They will get it, and you will pay.
And next year you will see threads on this site telling you to vote for these clowns because they are “Republicans”.
Americans For Immigration Reform and Enforcement
If you wish to be added to, or removed from, this ping list please notify me.
I see this same post alot! Would you consider adding to it the free hispanic hotline number? I’ve been very successful in getting through on it today, especially if you go the spanish route.
Passed the Senate last year.
Why don’t we all just give up and let the enemy (domestic and foreign) win the war? Politics is an unending battle and if you are unwilling to fight the fight you should get off the field and stay on the sideline. I suppose you will be voting for Hillary and Barack Hussein Obama?
These Republicans voted FOR cloture today, but might be persuaded to vote NO on cloture Thursday — our last chance. Tell them you know they voted wrong today. Demand they vote right Thursday. Tell them to stop being part of the problem. AMENDMENTS ARE MEANINGLESS!!! STOP BEING SNOOKERED BY TED KENNEDY AND HARRY REID!!!
Bond: 202-224-5721
shana_marchio@bond.senate.gov
Brownback, also running for President (you kiddin’ me???): 202-224-6521
brian_hart@brownback.senate.gov
Burr: 202-224-3154
Coleman, up for re-election in ‘08: 202-224-5641
leroy_coleman@coleman.senate.gov
Ensign, also chairman of Republican Senate campaign committee: 202-224-6244
tory_mazzola@ensign.senate.gov
Gregg: 202-224-3324
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.