Posted on 06/06/2007 12:56:31 PM PDT by Jean S
The frail coalition that is shepherding an immigration bill toward final passage in the Senate withstood another attack on its compromise language Wednesday, fighting off a possible “poison pill” amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
The amendment would have restricted the number of illegal immigrants eligible to remain in the country. It was defeated 51-46 when Republican Sens. Larry Craig (Idaho), Pete Domenici (N.M.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Mel Martinez (Fla.), John McCain (Ariz.), Arlen Specter (Pa.) and George Voinovich (Ohio) voted with the majority of Democrats to defeat the language.
Instead, the Senate passed a similar, narrower amendment that would prevent some criminals, including sex offenders and some gang members, from becoming legal residents.
>> but that I will support the right Senators individually.
That’s right. Doing the donations the RNC won’t do.
Two words: Lincoln Chafee
“But again can the Republican voters understand? They seem to want only one of the “big three” now.”
Why do you neglect the responsibility of the DEMOCRATS here?!?
- Every single one of the Democrats at the debate two days ago *refused to support English as America’s official language*.
- The Democrats (did Obama and Hillary vote or did they duck?) are officially for letting criminals get Z visa amnesty.
- They are for massive burdens on taxpayers via this amnesty
- they are for continuing chain migration
Meanwhile, every Republican candidate is for English as official language. Top tier candidate Romney slammed the Z visa amnesty program, made clear he wants ‘attrition’. Hunter brought up the fence.
And let’s not forget, while 10 RINOs voted against Cornyn’s common sense amendment, 40 Republicans voted for it. *Only a handful of Democrats voted for it*....
Think about it. The vast majority of Democrats in the Senate voted to completely undermine rule of law and let criminals become US citizen.
I ask you: CAN THE DEMOCRAT VOTERS UNDERSTAND? CAN WE MAKE THEM?
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 1267 to S.Amdt. 1150 to to S. 1348 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 )
Statement of Purpose: To remove the requirement that Y-1 nonimmigrant visa holders leave the United States before they are able to renew their visa.
Alphabetical by Senator Name Akaka (D-HI), Yea Alexander (R-TN), Nay Allard (R-CO), Nay Baucus (D-MT), Yea Bayh (D-IN), Yea Bennett (R-UT), Nay Biden (D-DE), Yea Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Bond (R-MO), Nay Boxer (D-CA), Yea Brown (D-OH), Yea Brownback (R-KS), Nay Bunning (R-KY), Nay Burr (R-NC), Nay Byrd (D-WV), Nay Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Cardin (D-MD), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea Casey (D-PA), Yea Chambliss (R-GA), Nay Clinton (D-NY), Nay Coburn (R-OK), Yea Cochran (R-MS), Nay Coleman (R-MN), Nay Collins (R-ME), Nay Conrad (D-ND), Yea Corker (R-TN), Nay Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Craig (R-ID), Nay Crapo (R-ID), Nay DeMint (R-SC), Nay Dodd (D-CT), Yea Dole (R-NC), Nay Domenici (R-NM), Nay Dorgan (D-ND), Nay Durbin (D-IL), Yea Ensign (R-NV), Nay Enzi (R-WY), Nay Feingold (D-WI), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Nay Graham (R-SC), Nay Grassley (R-IA), Nay Gregg (R-NH), Nay Hagel (R-NE), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Yea Hatch (R-UT), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Yea Inhofe (R-OK), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Nay Johnson (D-SD), Not Voting Kennedy (D-MA), Nay Kerry (D-MA), Yea Klobuchar (D-MN), Nay Kohl (D-WI), Yea Kyl (R-AZ), Nay Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Leahy (D-VT), Yea Levin (D-MI), Nay Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Lott (R-MS), Nay Lugar (R-IN), Nay Martinez (R-FL), Nay McCain (R-AZ), Nay McCaskill (D-MO), Nay McConnell (R-KY), Nay Menendez (D-NJ), Yea Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Murkowski (R-AK), Nay Murray (D-WA), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Nay Obama (D-IL), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea Reed (D-RI), Yea Reid (D-NV), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay Salazar (D-CO), Nay Sanders (I-VT), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Yea Smith (R-OR), Nay Snowe (R-ME), Nay Specter (R-PA), Nay Stabenow (D-MI), Nay Stevens (R-AK), Nay Sununu (R-NH), Nay Tester (D-MT), Yea Thune (R-SD), Nay Vitter (R-LA), Nay Voinovich (R-OH), Nay Warner (R-VA), Nay Webb (D-VA), Nay Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Yea
If the Republicans were true to principles here, this would be a non-issue. People in America don’t understand this. They will “credit” the Democrats for this bill if they favor it, or they will “blame” the Republicans for this immigration bill if they oppose it.
Easiest question yet: NO and NO.
sw
A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Monday and Tuesday night found that:
* 23% of voters now support the bill
* 50% of voters are opposed
* 16% of voters believe it will actually reduce illegal immigration.
* Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters prefer no bill over the Senate bill. Just 32% prefer the legislative compromise over inaction
* If the current bill passes, 69% of voters say that it will “still be necessary to pass another law that focuses on securing the borders and reducing illegal immigration.”
* just 29% of Democrats support the measure while 40% are opposed
* Senator John McCain, a leading supporter of the bill, fell to fourth place in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll for the Republican Presidential nomination.
* President George W. Bush, a primary backer of the immigration legislation, saw his Job Approval ratings tumble to record lows in May as the debate heated up.
* Beltway politicians have misunderstood the public debate over immigration.... those who favor an enforcement-first policy are more likely than others to ultimately support a welcoming immigration policy.
* By a 3-to-1 margin, voters say it doesn’t make sense to consider additional laws until the government first gains control of the borders and enforces existing laws.
I can remember telling a young doe eyed F.O.B. ( friend of bill ) in 1992 Clinton could never be elected, she & the American electorate proved me wrong twice.
Congress is a product of that electorate.I take nothing for granted now, unfortunately I think it will pass.
sw
See my post on Rassmussen’s polling on this issue. I’d love to know how many people “strongly disagree” with a question like “should illegal immigrants who are convicted felons or who have already ignored a deportation order be allowed a permanent Z visa?”
The Cornyn amendment would have banned felons from obtaining a Z status and/or eventual citizenship.
It included those who have re-entered the United States after formal deportation, people who stole identities, those convicted of DUI, those convicted of child molestation.
The Democrats said this was too harsh....and admitted that half the agricultural workers fall into these catagories.
Larry Craig (Idaho)
Pete Domenici (N.M.)
Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Chuck Hagel (Neb.)
Jon Kyl (Ariz.)
Richard Lugar (Ind.)
Mel Martinez (Fla.)
John McCain (Ariz.)
Arlen Specter (Pa.)
George Voinovich (Ohio)
... voted with the majority of Democrats to defeat the language.
Remember those names, folks. They need to go down in their next Primaries.
Count me in on strongly disagreeing. I can’t imagine what our elected officials are thinking for this to even be brought up as a legitimate question. Someone enlighten me, please!!
This is ominous. It looks like the Senate has put together a fragile coalition that will just win a majority there.
If so, than it has to be stopped in the House.
I bet people in IN are pleased with Lugar supporting this because they want more “diversity” in the heartland.
It’s ominous in terms of proving the Senate’s utter disregard for the national interest. But we already knew that. I think the rejection of sensible amendments like Cornyn’s is actually good news. It will make it slightly harder for Republicans to vote for this monstrosity.
My hatred for Lugar has no bounds.
IN would have been as well off keeping ol’ Vance Hartke back in 1976 — it made no difference in the long run to hire Lugar. But people in IN think Lugar is as indispensable as do the MA people of their “Ted”.
I wish that Lugar had retired. He may be getting senile to support such a thing.
I just attempted to call Lindsay Graham to tell him how I felt about his vote today only to be told his mail box was full. Sent an email but would love for the SOB, or one of his staff to hear my voice. For the first time in 24 years of going to vote every time the polls open I will vote for a jackass if the GOP runs this joke.
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