Deal Would Put Millions on Path To Citizenship

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/washington/06cnd-immig.html?hp&ex=1144382400&en=6d67375fd1fd9fe0&ei=5094&partner=homepage ^

[Altair333]

WASHINGTON, April 6 — After days of painstaking negotiations, Senate leaders today hammered out a broad, bipartisan compromise that would put the vast majority of the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship.

The plan would also create a temporary worker program that would allow 325,000 foreigners to fill jobs in the United States each year. The Senate was expected to vote on the measure late today or early Friday and, if passed, it would mark the most sweeping immigration accord in two decades.

Under the agreement, illegal immigrants who have lived here for five years or more — about seven million people — would eventually be granted citizenship if they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes and learned English. Illegal immigrants who have lived here from two to five years — about three million people — would have to leave the country briefly and return as temporary workers. They would also be eligible for citizenship over time, but they would have to wait several years longer for it.

[Altair333]

I've looked as hard as I can for a bright side to this Republican sellout, and the best I can come up with is this:

since Frist's bill is apparently the basis for what is being agreed to, doesn't that mean that Frist will appoint the Senate negotiators for the conference committee? If so, that will be better than a conference between, say, Kennedy and the House.

This is Frist's last chance to redeem something of his standing in the eyes of conservatives- by appointing negotiators who will agree with a lot of what the House voted for.

[VU4G10]

M A D N E S S

[Pukin Dog]

Damn I wish you would all just calm down.

There is not going to be a final bill, so I really don't understand what you are all so upset about.

Congress is not going to risk a single vote by taking one side or the other, the Senate had to do something to save voters, and now the House will too. The final bill offered will be too smelly for either side, and there will be no bill.

Who cant see this?

NO BILL IS GOING TO PASS, PEOPLE...

[capt. norm]

No matter how much they try to avoid the word 'amnesty', this whole thing is still a big floating you-know-what in a punch bowl.

[sushiman]

This is a akin to finding a robber in your house , and then proceeding to tell him that he can take anything he wants as long as he says thank you on the way out the door . America is facked ( sic ) .

[boomop1]

This is going nowhere, eye wash for the moron MSM.

[Altair333]

"Congress is not going to risk a single vote by taking one side or the other"

Why are you so confident? The Senate is risking it. They are all going on the record, one way or the other.

[So Cal Rocket]

While no bill may pass, the incentive for someone from a third world country to get his butt over the border and get a few fake documents showing he's been here for 5 years just skyrocketed.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

House Republicans will succumb, Bush will eagerly sign it and donate his veto pen to an illegal alien family invited for the signing ceremony, and America will cease to exist.

[RegulatorCountry]

"broad, bipartisan compromise"

Bureaucrat-speak for spineless mush.

[Mini-14]

FAIRUS e-mail

Some Senators Listening to (Hearing) the American Public!

The Senate failed to invoke cloture this morning by a vote of 39-60 on the Specter Amnesty, all but making it go it go away. You are making the difference! Many Senate offices tell us your voices are loud and clear-no amnesty! Since the cloture vote on the Specter Amendment failed, the largest amnesty proposal in American history does not have enough support behind it to pass the Senate.

Now, we face the second wave of amnesty-a late night "compromise" hashed out between Maj. Leader Frist and Sens. Hagel and Martinez.

Majority Leader Frist decided to invoke cloture on this new "compromise" -- one that allows illegal aliens who have been here for at least five years (Illegally) to have amnesty. Those who recently entered the country have only to apply for papers and get legal status, and the requirement they depart the country is full of loopholes, starting with the fact this "mandatory" measure can be waived. Thus, the longer you've broken the law the greater your reward. Does anyone believe that this scenario is any better? With the rampant document fraud encountered each day by employers and USCIS will there be anyone with papers showing they've been here less than five years? We doubt it!

An amnesty is an amnesty!

1. There is no punishment for having broken our laws
2. Illegal aliens can continue to stay/live here
3. Illegal aliens can continue to work here
4. Despite breaking our laws, illegal aliens are given a privileged path to U.S. citizenship
5. In essence, illegal aliens are rewarded for breaking our laws

We have received many reports from you about your calls to the U.S. Senate. We are so appreciative of not only your calls, but for your feedback. Your feedback helps us direct our resources, and yours, in the right direction.

Many of you have stated your disappointment with the responsiveness of the Congressional staff answering your calls. Please treat this interaction with these Senate offices as you would with any company. You deserve to be treated respectfully. When you call, get the staffer's name first. If at anytime you feel you are not treated with the appropriate "customer/constituent service," ask to speak to their supervisor or staff director. You may even call back to the DC office or to their district offices to voice your complaint. These elected officials work for you-remember to hold them accountable.

Please call these Senators to respectfully but assertively tell them to vote against the Hagel/Martinez amnesty (vote to take place at 10:30, Friday, April 7), and to vote against the doubling of legal immigration legislation also in the Hagel/Martinez amendment that will be voted on tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. We need to adopt border security and enforcement only provisions like S. 2377 introduced by Senators Nelson, Coburn and Sessions.

Here's a suggestion of what you can say. . .

"Hi, with whom am I speaking? Thank you for taking my call. I want to urge the Senator to vote against both the Hagel/Martinez amnesty and the Frist legislation tomorrow. The only thing acceptable to the American public is true enforcement like S.2377, the Nelson, Coburn, Sessions bill. I will be tracking the Senator's vote."

Please Call these Senators' offices now! They are waffling on this vote between special interests and the public interest. Tell them to vote for the public interest and say no to the Hagel/Martinez and Frist legislation.

Sen. Lott R-MS (202) 224-6253

Sen. Allen R-VA (202) 224-4024

Sen. Allard R-CO (202) 224-5941

Sen. Bond R-MO (202) 224-5721

Sen. Burns R-MT (202) 224-2644

Sen. Chambliss R-GA (202) 224-3521

Sen. Cornyn R-TX (202) 224-2934

Sen. Hatch R-UT (202) 224-5251

Sen. Dorgan D-ND (202) 224-2551

Sen. Kyl R-AZ (202) 224-4521

Sen. Sununu R-NH (202) 224-2841

Sen. Ensign R-NV (202) 224-6244

Sen. Rockefeller D-WV (202) 224-6472

Sen. Stabenow D-MI (202) 224-4822

Sen. Feinstein D-CA (202) 224-3841

Sen. Frist R-TN (202) 224-3344

Sen. Talent R-MO (202) 224-6154

Sen. Thomas R-WY (202) 224-6441

Sen. DeMint R-SC (202) 224-6121

Sen. Burr R-NC (202) 224-3154

Sen. Bennett R-UT (202) 224-5444

Sen. Hutchison R-TX (202) 224-5922

Sen. Snowe R-ME (202) 224-5344

Sen. Enzi R-WY (202) 224-3424

Sen. McConnell R-KY (202) 224-2541

Sen. Murkowski R-AK (202) 224-6665

Sen. Santorum R-PA (202) 224-6324

Sen. Thune R-SD (202) 224-2321

Sen. Bunning R-KY (202) 224-4343

 

[Redbob]

Hope you're right, dog.

[RegulatorCountry]

I've always found that confidence is key, when trying to sell something.

[Pukin Dog]

Aint gonna happen.

Neither side will take that risk before the election. I would not be surprised if the Senate bill is filibustered by Republicans too. If it gets out of the Senate, the Conference will never produce a bill that both sides would like.

It isnt even possible.

[ziggygrey]

Let's see.. we'll reward law-breakers with citizenship... and we'll give employers workers who don't have rights as citizens.. the middle class is being hit from both sides..

[reformedliberal]

Kay Bailey Hutchinson was on Gibson's show and she said there is still no bill. The donks have used procedural process to block any submission or voting on amendments.

The MSM is not reporting this, so far. IMO, Pukin has a point. It ain't over.

[Pukin Dog]

Why are you so confident? The Senate is risking it.

The Senate isn't risking anything. They are doing what they are best at, which is getting attention for doing nothing. These jokers work harder at elbowing each other out of the way to get to the cameras then they do at passing legislation.

Every single one of them has already made a deal with each other to act concerned, get camera time and free election publicity, and in the end do nothing that would harm their election chances.

When the Republican majority is safe in November, you will see a little more money thrown at Border patrol. That is it.

[Timeout]

What you said.

This is just cover. The House will never agree to it and the senators can preen and talk about "compromise".

[ziggygrey]

When the Republican majority is safe in November, you will see a little more money thrown at Border patrol. That is it.

Wouldn't we be more assured of a republican majority in November if they threw a little more money at the border patrol.. NOW?

[Pukin Dog]

Actually it IS over. It was over before the issue became the main news item. Both sides are going to scare you to the polls to prevent the other side from getting their way. If you don't want Amnesty, you wont let the Dems get the House. If you don't want Bush impeached, you wont stay home on election day. Dont want the Dems to pull the troops out? Then I guess you better vote, huh? Someday, an election is going to happen, and more of you will take notes.