Posted on 06/27/2007 2:39:42 PM PDT by Baladas
WASHINGTON - The Senate defeated attempts Wednesday to make the immigration bill tougher on people who are in the U.S. unlawfully, including a Republican bid to bar illegal immigrants from getting green cards.
Senators voted 56-41 to set aside the amendment by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., which would have destroyed a central element of the bill granting millions of illegal immigrants an eventual path to citizenship.
Earlier, the Senate killed, by a 53-45 vote, a proposal by Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to require that all adult illegal immigrants go home within two years to get permanent lawful status. The current bill requires only heads of household seeking permanent legal residency to return home to apply for green cards.
A Democratic amendment restricting legal status to those who have been in the United States for four years also failed. The existing measure would make all those in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2007, eligible for legalization.
The vote to kill that proposal, by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was 79-18.
All the amendments were designed to respond to conservatives who decry President Bush's immigration bill as a form of amnesty for illegal immigrants.
The Senate was also turning to Democratic amendments that would give family members of citizens and legal permanent residents more chances to immigrate.
Without her return-home amendment, Hutchison said, "the amnesty tag that has been put on this bill will remain. It is the key issue in the bill for the American people."
Webb said his proposal would raise the public's comfort level with granting lawful status to illegal immigrants.
"People in this country who traditionally would be supporting fair immigration policies, but who are worried about the legalization process in this bill, would come forward and support this," Webb said.
The revived immigration measure, which also would toughen border security and institute a new system for weeding out illegal immigrants from workplaces, is facing steep challenges from the right and left.
Conservatives call the measure too lenient toward unlawful immigrants, while liberals say it could rip apart families and doom guest workers to exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous employers.
Votes on key amendments were continuing Wednesday afternoon under a complex and carefully orchestrated procedure designed to overcome stalling tactics by conservative foes. It will allow votes only on a limited list of 26 amendments before a critical test-vote on the bill Thursday.
"It's going to be a rough ride," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., an architect of the bill. "We're in trench warfare."
Republican framers of the bill were proposing their own, less burdensome return-home requirement for illegal immigrants. It would apply only to heads of household and would give them three years to meet the requirement.
Conservatives, irate at a process that has essentially stymied their ability to filibuster, said Senate leaders were trying to rush through a bad bill.
"The process has not been a pretty one," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.
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To compare the shenanigans these corrupt swine engage in to the dangerous, selfless, heroic acts our troops are engaged in this very moment shows how far gone our 'leaders' are. Out with all of them. They aren't even fit to be citizens.
Trench warfare for the life of America!!
She's a moron and RINO.
It is the key issue in the bill for KBH and the other traitorous Republicans. The American people see the amendment for the fraud that it is.
It is a feel good, justification amendment so that SOME Republicans could cya.
They all make me sick.
God bless him. I know he's doing his best. That's not the simile I would have used, but he is a politician still.
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
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)
Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Conservatives call the measure too lenient toward unlawful immigrants, while liberals say it could rip apart families and doom guest workers to exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous employers.
No one asked them to come here to begin with...It is Mexico’s problem about unemployment in their country ,not ours!
As I have said all along, the fix is in on this bill. Outside of a very few Senators that are genuinely against this sell out, the rest are all lying and posturing. This bill was and is a done deal, at least in the Senate. Mitch McConnell (Weasel, KY) could have thrown up procedural roadblocks, I believe. The coward couldn’t dredge up the nads to oppose the bill. His mealy mouthed excuse that he had to “listen to the debate” is just so much chicken crap. Anyone with half a brain knows that no amount of amendments can fix this Amnesty Sellout. Anyone with 1/4 brain knows that the way this is being run through is proof in itself that this is a royal screw job to this country. Ipso facto, this is proof that these Senators (and Mr. Bush) pushing this bill are traitorous scum. IMO, street walkers are morally superior to these low lifes.
If FReeper Jorge is reading this, remember, I stand by my desire to tar & feather Bush and his traitorous compatriots in the Senate. Strip them naked then tar & feather them and run their sleazy butts down Pennsylvania Avenue at high noon.
It is high time for some serious civil disobedience in this country.
Sent this to Sen Webb’s CoS... As Jim Webb is a Marine Vietnam vet, maybe he remembers something called “honor” and will be responsive.
“I recall when your boss was an author of a VERY good book on his experiences as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam. As a retired Marine and Vietnam veteran also, I recall serving under him when he was President Reagan’s Navy Secretary. Now he’s a Senator from a most renowned state, Virginia, where my son lives and works as a fireman and where many of my siblings and nieces/nephews also call home.
I ask that you point out to him that his NO vote on this abominable bill will be appreciated far more widely than just Virginia. He will be helping to stop legislation that has the serious potential to sunder the very fabric of the American society. As the husband of a lawful immigrant who helped my wife jump through all the INS/CIS hoops and going through the same for my stepson, I am outraged that so many people in the US Senate are so willing to allow millions of scofflaws to jump right to the head of the LEGAL immigration line and thumb their noses at those who wanted so much to come to this country and be able to live here LEGALLY and properly they spent many dollars and untold hours and weeks and months filling out the proper forms and going through all the right motions to do things the RIGHT way. Senator Webb could be a MAJOR factor in bringing some sanity back into our immigration discussion by his NO vote when the cloture question is brought up again.
Very truly
DC Wright
SSgt retired”
Oops.......forgot to add sarcasm! Surely I don’t have to, but ya never know.
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