Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
Oh, and what does GHWB call Bill Clinton? His “other son” or some such? Bush sides with Teddy Kennedy, let Sandy Berger walk,.... You’ve done been played, son, if you think President Bush really opposes the Clintons.
So you support the troops but not the mission. You are the biggest phony/fake/fraud on this board. You are about as conservative as HilaryCare. Say hi to $0R0S at your next convention.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
LOL. You didn’t read what I wrote. I’m not surprised. The war is necessary, but the way it is being fought - including this bill - is foolish.
“You are about as conservative as HilaryCare. “
I’m not the one supporting a man who agrees with Teddy Kennedy, buddy. Oh, wait! You think “conservative” means “whatever George Bush wants”! LOL!
“Say hi to $0R0S at your next convention.”
Maybe Soros is the one funding this destruction of the GOP by those you support..... Something has to explain the President’s pathological desire to destroy the Republican Party.
George W. Bush is turning The United States of America into The United Saps of America.
Come on lib, tell the truth for once in your miserable life. You love President Reagan too?? You like how he won the Cold War, tearing down that Wall of Tyranny??
Pray for W and Our Troops
“One of the problems is that conservatives are too uninformed these days to vote in primaries. They just think that whoever is anointed with an “R” is the right choice and things will work out accordingly.”
You are correct.
Let’s educate them.
I’m not alone.
“Any $0R0$ clown would say that to not out himself completely. “
Then William F. Buckley is a “$0R0$ clown”. Listen, son, you don’t fight a war this way and expect to win. You don’t fight a war like this with the frontier undefended and the enemy invited in. You don’t win a war by praising your enemy’s ideology. You don’t win a war by funding your enemy.
“You like how he won the Cold War, tearing down that Wall of Tyranny??”
He didn’t win the Cold War by praising Communism, as Bush praises Islam.
Frankly, I find your pretension laughable.
Just noticed this. You defend a man who sides with Teddy Kennedy against the best interests of his own party and the country - and this isn’t the FIRST TIME - and you dare call ME a liberal?
“You are here 24/7, so you work at the DNC monitoring and disrupting this bored??”
I’m hardly here “24/7”. Perhaps you are?
He’s got help in the useful idiots of the Left who claim here to be “Republicans”.
Yes, bray, that means you.
Call/email/write/fax and say NO to Amnesty!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
It’s almost like GWB went to war to prove to Iraq how “compassionate” he is. Makes no sense. Ron Paul blundered badly by not clarifying what he was trying to say in response to Giuliani. If the “leadership class” had to finance this war out of their own pockets, there would have been no war, certainly not one as unsuccessful as this. It has been four years to the month since GWB declared “Mission Accomplished” when he went to Baghdad.
It sounds like two ruling families willing to divide the spoils among themselsves because of the 22nd Amendment. And most Americans don’t even know what the 22nd Amendment establishes.
I'm uncomfortable with Dr. Paul's apparent willingness to leave Islamic regions untouched by our intervention. Does he have a position paper out on this subject or a You Tube interview where he describes his point of view more accurately than this one soundbite we'll all remember from the debates?
Oh gee, now the $0R0$ plant is going to make me cry. Go tell your boss your name and cliches didn’t work and you are busted. Nice try, but next time try having an original thought, rather than “conservative” cliches.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
I find it interesting that you think conservatives are “$0R0$ plants”. I think this is projection on your part.
NO conservative would support the President in this action. That tells me you aren’t one.
“You can’t fight a “WOT” with open borders, funding for Fatah, or encouraging more Muslim immigration. You see, it isn’t a “War on Terror”, but a War with Islam and Islam is NOT a “religion of peace”.”
Amen, brother.
The war against islamofascism cannot be seperated from either illegal immigration or the illegal drug trade.
We have been sold down the river.
You said it. The left and the media chose to see it the way they wished.
This latest screw job has been in the hopper waiting to be sprung on us.
Absolutely.
“We have been sold down the river.”
The only question is to whom?
I haven’t voted for McCain since 1992. He was a Reagan conservative until the mid nineties. I had my picture taken with him in 1996. Then...voila. He chameleoned into a liberal.
Well, now the islamofacists who finance their operations to a great extent through the illegal drug trade and/or the Mexican mob will have control of our home while the leftists take over the Mafia that we call government.
If anyone would like to listen to a nice calming Zell speech at the University of the Cumberlands sponsored by the young republicans go here:
http://townhall.com/MediaPlayer/AudioPlayer.aspx?ContentGuid=6106cc19-b7c3-4b2a-9cb9-8c8bff2aad5b
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