Senate Immigration Reform Bill Takes Step Toward the Grave

Fox News ^ | June 27, 2007 | Major Garrett and Trish Turner

[notes2005]

WASHINGTON — The fragile immigration reform bill crafted in the Senate faces sudden death Thursday when a second vote is scheduled to shut down a filibuster.

If supporters don't get the 60 votes they need to end debate, then the bill is dead since the Senate schedule does not allow any more time to revive the legislation.

In an unusual admission, two leadership aides — one Democrat, one Republican — told FOX News that they have no idea how the vote will go. Vote-counting is something that is normally down to a science in the Senate chamber. The vote to end debate, called "cloture," is expected at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The mood in the Senate took a perceptible shift Wednesday as lawmakers decided not to "table," or send into permanent limbo, one of the 27 amendments approved for debate. That amendment was designed to weaken worker verification standards that are key to the measure's approach to reducing the ability of illegals to obtain work with fraudulent documents.

The Senate vote, 45-52, not to kill the amendment stops all momentum toward passage, something the White House and bipartisan Senate leadership hoped to achieve by Friday.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

One thing that makes me nervous in these news accounts is the report of Richard Burr saying he will vote against cloture.

I have been watching this weasel like a hawk. If he actually said this, it will be the very first plain statement he has ever made.

Everything...EVERYTHING...he has said up to now has been loaded up with tricky wording which sought to allow the questioner to hear what he wanted to hear but gave the weasel an escape clause.

I lost it today and told the weasel (via email)...well, better not repeat it here. It was not a threat...just good, old-testament-style damnation!

I was tired of sweet reason and decided to let him taste the rage.

[Shermy]

“I believe they’ll try every trick in the book to get this done. Until then keep your eyes wide open.”

I think this was their grandest trick. It was made knowing that what the really want, mass legalization, could never be passed on its own, but under the confusion of “comprehensivity” and keeping many in check by imparting fears of being called racist. On its own, I think, or at least they think, Z Visas and the like could never pass. Any such bill would end up only amnestying people who have been here for twenty years with American born children, and that would go down hard.

Non-enforcement is a route, but as Kyl and others said, the powers that be are worried the states might start enforcing federal immigration law.

[Malesherbes]

If this monstrosity if killed - and please Heaven make it so - then Bush has only two choices:

He can do nothing about securing the border, i.e. the status quo. This would seem to be his preferred choice.

Or, he could finally, after six and a half years, get serious about border control and employer sanctions, i.e. enforce existing law. Since he has declared the status quo to be a "crisis," this would be the logical choice - but does anybody expect logic?

[goldfinch]

You need one more level.

Politions

Voters

Taxpayers

[SergeiRachmaninov]

I believe they’ll try every trick in the book to get this done. Until then keep your eyes wide open.

We sure do have to say on top of it.

But, I believe that, in the end, we will win the cloture vote with more than five votes to spare! Not close.

These things tend to avalanche toward the end, one way or the other. And the failure of the clay pigeon means few senators have had even a pretend shot at their amendments. Thus, they have good cover to do what they want to do anyway because they are now more afraid of the pitchforks than anything else.

(Disclaimer: I don't know what I am talking about.)

[Shermy]

Here is the problem with Ensign: Ensign was born in Roseville, California to Sharon Lee Cipriani and a father whose surname was "Mueller"; his maternal grandfather was of Italian descent.[1] Ensign's family moved to Nevada when he was a child. His mother remarried Michael S. Ensign, a gaming industry executive who subsequently became chairman of the board of directors of Mandalay Bay,[2] and who adopted John. Ensign went to UNLV, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University, becoming a veterinarian in 1985. He then became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.

Nuf said.

I'm intrigued. The Mandalay Bay connection is good, casinos are pushing for big wage depressions, especially as they have increasingly more like resorts over the years.

But what do the other things have to do with this? Veterinarians?

[tophat9000]

DIE! DAMM YOU!

[caphillbabe]

Here is a list of the key staff contacts of the “Amnesty 8” Senators that are most likely to be persuaded to vote no on Thursday and derail amnesty. Many offices are putting calls straight to voicemail and they can just trash faxes (and letters take weeks to get through due to security). Hit Hill staff where they are so codependent - their Blackberries! Send email directly to staff - not just the generic Senate office mailbox. Contact their Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and Press Secretary. Make your voice heard!!

For the Democrats, I would strongly suggest taking a pro-union/anti-illegal alien stance (i.e. “they are taking our jobs”) rather than using the conservative national security angle.

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Chief of Staff
tim_becker@bennelson.senate.gov

Legislative Director
christiana_gallagher@bennelson.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
david_dimartino@bennelson.senate.gov

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Chief of Staff
bob_russell@pryor.senate.gov

Legislative Director
andy_york@pryor.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
michael_teague@pryor.senate.gov
lisa_ackerman@pryor.senate.gov

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)
Chief of Staff
paul_reagan@webb.senate.gov

Legislative Director
mike_sozan@webb.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
jessica_smith@webb.senate.gov

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO)
Chief of Staff
brian_klippenstein@bond.senate.gov

Legislative Director
kara_smith@bond.senate.gov

Communications Director
shana_marchio@bond.senate.gov

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Chief of Staff
glen_chambers@brownback.senate.gov

Domestic Policy Advisor
brian_robertson@brownback.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
john_rankin@brownback.senate.gov
brian_hart@brownback.senate.gov

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Chief of Staff
alicia_peterson-clark@burr.senate.gov
alicia_peterson-petersonclark@burr.senate.gov

Legislative Director
natasha_hickman@burr.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
laura_caudell@burr.senate.gov
mark_williams@burr.senate.gov

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Chief of Staff
jennifer_lowe@coleman.senate.gov

Deputy Chief of Staff
lucia_lebens@coleman.senate.gov

Legislative Director
lorianne_moss@coleman.senate.gov

Communications Director
tom_steward@coleman.senate.gov
tom_stewart@coleman.senate.gov

Press Secretary
leroy_coleman@coleman.senate.gov

Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Chief of Staff
john_lopez@ensign.senate.gov

Legislative Director
pam_thiessen@ensign.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
tory_mazzola@ensign.senate.gov
jack_finn@ensign.senate.gov
don_tatro@ensign.senate.gov

[Die_Hard Conservative Lady]

Ditto, on the great job....

You’re hired!

[AFreeBird]

I want to see existing law enforced.

That, unfortunately, won't happen until we get a new - Conservative - chief executive.

Notice I didn't say Republican, not that I'm saying that a Dem would be "conservative" on this issue (or any issue), just that the Republican Party, for the most part, has left the reservation, and wants to create a "Political Class" with the Dems.. We need new blood.

We seriously need new blood.

[mad_as_he$$]

Just wanted to give the whole picture. Didn’t want to be accused of leaving something important out. Good news is he isn’t a lawyer, bad news is his stepdaddy is bigtime casino.

[AFreeBird]

... Bush and Cheney...nothing left for them in my heart now. And long investigations and hearings and impeachment proceedings would preclude any further work on their shamnesty plot with Chappaquiddick Ted. I told my Dim senator's office today they could impeach Bush and I just wouldn't even care any more. And that's the way I feel... by: George W. Bush

Dude, have you seen a shrink about that self loathing?

Perhaps a S/N change is in order, either that, or a change in you tagline disavowing your namesake.

[goldstategop]

Those arrogant nitwits deserve to lose - they can't put the country's interests FIRST. I don't know what's wrong with people incapable of apprehending common sense. NO AMNESTY!

"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

[AmericaUnited]

Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, also told FOX News that he will vote “no” this time.

Who was the guy searching for a "righteous man"? He's just been found.

[TomGuy]

If they can kill this thing again, they need to

• wrap it in garlic,
• drive a wooden stake through its heart,
• pour salt on it,
• burn it,
• sprinkle holy water on the ashes,
• place a silver cross on the ashes,
• bury it in an unmarked grave,

and maybe it will stay dead this time.

[Cacique]

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

[Lauren BaRecall]

Well done! LOL! (applause)

[TheInvisibleMan]

Awesome work!!!!!

Great graphic!!!

[infidel29]

It was called the Amnesty Society Safe Harbor Of Legal Equalization. (of course the acronym is....)

Completely coincidentally I have a picture I did a while back...

[libs_kma]

"I’m sure that all of Voinovich’s phones have been taken off the hook."

I tried all day yesterday to call that jack@$$. Rang busy all day.