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The Baucus amendment would have protected the jobs and gun rights of Americans who live in states that are blocking the enforcement of the REAL ID Act. Without the promise of a National ID in every state, the Baucus amendment effectively became the ultimate poison pill in this bill.
Er, not quite. This amendment was not a poison pill.
In fact what the conservatives did was trip up the SEQUENCE OF EVENTS which made it harder for the pro-amnesty side to get the momentum they needed. They wanted another amendment in the bill, to shows some ‘enforcement’ teeth, but by not tabling this bill, the process got ‘stuck’. So they need to go straight to cloture to get it unstuck. No go.
As such, it was NOT the killer but just an indicator that the bill was in trouble.
THE REAL STORY CAN BE LOOKED AT WHEN TO CONSIDER HOW THOSE WHO ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2008 VOTED.
The 2008 class of Senators voted strongest against the bill.
The people spoke. The Senators were forced to listen. That simple.