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 ...
Pacific-northwest is as well.
You didn't, but others have and admit I'm addressing them insomuch as adressing your points. I should have stated so to avoid confusion.
But, again, his behavior is nothing new...even towards Vincente Fox.
I've given up trying to understand it.
Closest I an configure Either he is just too emotionally invested to see clearly because he knows people this personally affects, a strong possibility and something we have a track record concerning 1) His response to Our current AG 2) Miers; or he's not being upfront about backstage dealings that might make his intractable stance more understandable. because, right now? His reasons for supporting this just don't hold up to scrutiny.
The Dems were in control for Carter's four years and we made it through just fine. He made things worse, but it's not like Nixon and Ford had the country running like a well oiled machine.
We also made it through the first two years of Clinton just fine as well. Not the greatest, but it was bearable.
See the pattern? Democrat-Lite Republicans are no better than Democrats in the long run and getting them out of office paves the way for CONSERVATIVE Repbublicans.
How? It's obvious that they're not listening to us.
The ONLY way it could possibly work is to fine employers $5000 per illegal and put them in jail for one year for each illegal they employ. IF there was no work, they would go back to Mexico.
In some of these towns, it'll be an improvement from the snobbishness and cluelessness that doesn't think it affects them.
Honestly, I went to the town hall in this metrowest town to ask who the HOR rep is, and nobody knew!!
I'll let you guess which town it is.
How do we know they will be able to enforce the provisions of any bill they pass when they have not shown good faith in enforcing the laws we already have regarding our immigration policies?
Yes. I don't believe the democrats can destroy the country in that period of time. Frankly, nobody can do much with that power, because first it won't be a large majority, and second the real power's in the civil service ranks, and they pretty much run stuff.
Plus, whatever the dem's do will make things worse, so the ignorant masses who don't care about party will vote republicans back when they don't get results.
And if we had a republican president who knew how to use a pen, we might be able to veto stuff that was really bad.
Frist is a big stupid disgrace. But he thinks we are going to forget this and vote him into office in 2008. They are all slimeballs breathing the rarified air of Washington, haughty as McKinney smart enough not to show it through violence. Worse yet, they think we are stupid provencials to be manipulated and lied to. "Those stupid voters. HAHAHA. They just keep allowing us to dilute their power and lifestyle in this country while we enrich ours ensuring the votes of illegals by letting more in and offering them amnesty."
Unless you are mentally defective, then that is a lie.
Buy yourself a ticket to Port Saint Lucie, Florida and take a drive with me in the fastest growing city in the USA - remember that country? - I will point them out all day without stop. For weeks on end.
Then, for kicks, we will go to Fort Pierce and ask any local where the illegals hang.
They will all laugh and point you right to them, but hey, those blacks are clearly racist, so they don't count either.
Of course, I am not writing this to you, but to other freepers to point out your untruths.
Wasn't Hewitt for extending the "Assault Weapons" Ban? I stopped listening to him awhile ago.
Illegal is illegal!
Is Frist a part of this compromise???? Been out all morning..Anyone on our side? Is this stoppable??
Mega dittos. LOL!
I don't have the time now but if I did I would put together a web page that showed the difference between a dem and Republican Congress with photos. Show a dem SC justice on left and a conservative one the right. Then show the potential dem committee chairs on the left side and existing Republican Committee chairs on right. The visual would be stunning.
Oh I see. You can't find a conservative alternative for DeWine now, but give six years of help to Harry Reid and one will show up?
This is where we diverge on the meaning of "dirty work".
ME: Support DeWine's opposition in a primary, but vote against Harry Reid in the general election.
YOU: Support Harry Reid and feel vindicated.
Well, I have no idea who you are, except some Libertarian "open borders" troll with a penchant for having nations lose their soverignty, but I for one don't want 240,000 people of any nationality wandering around with TB regardless of the small percentage sent home from Ellis Island. As far as TB being rampant in the 40's, anyway, that's the one we CURED. It cost about $2300.00 to cure, the drug resistant kind we're getting from south of the border now costs $24.000 to cure, if then--- and all paid for by the deep pockets? of the US taxpayer.
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