Posted on 04/06/2006 8:33:43 AM PDT by STARWISE
WASHINGTON - In a last stab at compromise, Senate Republicans and Democrats reported progress Thursday toward agreement on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. illegally.
"There's been tremendous progress overnight," said Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, the Democratic leader, while Majority Leader Bill Frist also expressed optimism that a long-sought compromise might be at hand.
There was no immediate reaction from President Bush, who has made immigration legislation a key priority.
The developments occurred after Frist unveiled a new bill late Wednesday night on the subject as the Senate headed into a test vote on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.
In general, the legislation would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants into the United States and settle the legal fate of the estimated 11 million men, women and children already in the country.
It was the fate of the illegal immigrant population that proved hardest to legislate, and it has left the Senate on the verge of gridlock for days.
(snip)
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as other key senators met before the vote to review terms of a proposed compromise.
In general, it would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.
Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
An excellent criticism to be directed at the sell-outs in the White House and Congress. Why destroy their party over something that such a large majority of the American people disagree with them over?
Is it not disturbing that the GOP are having to resort to a filibuster when they control the Senate?
Agreed, time to clean house.
Here's a few. Have at 'em...
Plenty more where those came from.
There's no problem finding them.
The problem is finding the political will to do something about them.
You and me both.
President "Better than Kerry" - I like that. Describes my feelings on the matter very well.
Sometimes you have to take one step back to take 10 steps forward. We took one step back in 1976 when Jimmy Carter was elected but it paved the way to take 100 steps forward in 1980 with Reagan.
If Ford had won in 1976, that whole wing of the Republican party would have continued for decades.
Thank you for the link! Message sent.
Great. Either every American has to register with local police (as in that bastion of freedom known as Russia), or congress legislates a national clearinghouse and task force for every municipal code in the US. Tell you what, you go experience it firsthand in europe (I have) for 3 or 4 years; then get back with me.
Aside from the minor point that we "malcontents" want our laws enforced and our borders secure, are you seriously arguing that low-wage, illiterate non-English-speaking illegals are a net benefit to the United States? Can you seriously argue that the costs of illegals, including healthcare, education, and crime, are outweighed by the benefits that a business receives from using illegals to keep down its costs?
Absolutely!! We cannot be deterred by all this pseudo comity to take our eyes off the ball: control of the WH and Congress ... period! They're all just rehearsing their congratulatory ownership of this issue for the press/photo ops and election babble.
Now you may not believe that there's no real difference between the two parties, but it follows inevitably from what you're saying. If it doesn't hurt the Republican politicians to lose, if they really don't care whether they win or lose, then they really don't care about what it is they're supposedly fighting for. It means that their real interest, as politicians, is to increase the power of the political class - nothing else.
>how would you locate...
LOL! Look at them.
Want to wager that I can find over a hundred a day just by doing that very thing?
Hell, I'll bet that I could nail a thousand in no time flat.
Knock off the spamming.
If they are illegal "undocumented workers" how in the world will you know how long they have been in this country?
What a stupid compromise. The illegals are already creating fake documents that somehow prove they've been here for 5 years or more.
Amnesty...plain and simple. Hope the Pubs can handle the hit in 2006.
AP/Greg Campbell
With fixed bayonets. Cut off the free welfare, education, and medical care and they'll likely leave on their own.
And how in the hell do ILLEGAL ALIENS prove when they entered the country ILLEGALLY? Can you imagine the discussion when the illegal is apprehended?
"When did you enter the country Sir?
20 years ago.
Ok, you can stay."
Is it just me, or is the entire capital infested with IDIOTS?
No problem
Another scenario is Frist's Bill which Reid would most likely filibuster.
I would think any bill that lands on Bush's desk containing amnesty of any sort he would use the veto pen for the first time. Here's why. Bush could say "here, I vetoed a bill containing amnesty" and would be seen as a man of his word thus elevating his stature.
The American taxpayer is the big loser here.
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