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.
Ted Kennedy is the one responsible for the immigration mess to begin with starting with his immigration reform bill back in 1965. Why isn’t he ever called to account for the damage he’s done to this country over the years?
It may be that we are in inevitable decline and can do nothing to reverse the socialist tide. Republicans are very socialist now under this GWB regime. It’s like Nelson and Rockefeller and George Romney prevailed in the long run though there was a short run with Reagan.
Near as I can see, ol' Norm ain't too keen on re-election.
Your right. I wasn’t pretending nothing. Source link came from another FR thread on same topic and was wrong. Didn’t check the date, my fault.
I already contacted my congress critter, Nick Lampson D, but his office says he is against the amnest/guest worker crud adn for more border security. I will do the best to keep his feet to the fire.
Both Coleman and Dayton from Minnesota supported this. Dayton’s a lunatic and Coleman’s in Bush’s pocket.
I wonder if they would find it in their generous hearts to give amnesty to the two border patrol agents sitting in prison for wounding an illegal drug trafficker.
Both Coleman and Dayton from Minnesota supported this. Dayton’s a lunatic and Coleman’s in Bush’s pocket.
I wonder if they would find it in their generous hearts to give amnesty to the two border patrol agents sitting in prison for wounding an illegal drug trafficker.
Well, we will drain Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua too...it isnt all from Mexico.
Brownback voted FOR the bill.
You and me both brother!
I won’t back down! Together we can turn this around!
didn’t mean to sound accusatory...sorry about that. :)
The full Senate did not vote on this agreement yet, where did you get this roll call votes form?
I understand many Republicans are voting “No” in the Internet polls when asked if they “approve” of the way GWB is handling his job. I guess they have no alternative but to vote “No”. Maybe GWB made a deal with the Clintons in December 2000 and they both sold out Gore!
Damn straight. I'm with you!
Lindsay Graham says illegals are “best and brightest”
what a moron! That is why they fail out of our schools!
Sorry, but I don't care if they had 25 or 35 or 41 votes for a filibuster. You don't sign onto this, you filibuster til the cows come home, and you try to sway the other pubbies to your side, and you let the public outcry scare them into joining you, and you fight like hell before you ever let the socialists destroy the republic. You don't make the best deal possible on this, or abortion or on winning a war. You do what's right. It's not a pork project, it's about who gets the benefit of the men who died in all those wars, the benefit of all the great people who have come before us in order that we could maintain the culture, traditions, rights, liberties and morals of this nation.
He got last year’s Senate vote - Chaffee is long gone.
Well, we will drain Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua too...it isnt all from Mexico.
Wow... that's the only downside you saw with my plan? I may be Emperor of Mexico sooner than I thought...
Agree.
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