"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Posted on 06/14/2007 3:55:45 PM PDT by Alaphiah123
Key senators tentatively agreed on a plan to revive a stalled immigration bill on Thursday, aided by President Bush's support for a quick $4.4 billion aimed at "securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site."
Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Republican and Democratic supporters of the bill were presenting their proposal to the Senate's top two leaders, who in turn arranged an early evening meeting to discuss it.
Precise details to be presented to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., were not disclosed.
In general, according to officials familiar with the discussions, Republicans and Democrats would each be accorded roughly a dozen chances to amend the measure, with the hope that they would then combine to provide the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster by die-hard opponents. The officials who described the emerging plan did so on condition of anonymity, saying the negotiations had been conducted in private.
The legislation has generated intense controversy, particularly for provisions envisioning eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country unlawfully. The bill also calls for greater border security and a crackdown on the hiring of illegal employees.
"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said, two days after launching a personal rescue mission.
Any agreement is subject to approval by Reid, who has said repeatedly it is up to Bush and Republicans to line up the votes needed to advance the measure if it is to be brought back to the Senate for debate. Reid, who has expressed misgivings about elements of the bill, sidetracked it last week after supporters gained only 45 of the 60 votes needed.
Republicans accounted for only seven of the 45 votes, and Reid said earlier this week, "We'll move on to immigration when they have their own act together."
Bush's decision to personally announce support for the accelerated funding reflected concerns expressed by Republican senators at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. Several told him their constituents doubted the government was capable of following through on a commitment to enforce immigration laws.
In a letter sent to Bush before the meeting, Georgia Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson wrote, "This lack of trust is rooted in the mistakes made in 1986, and the continued chaos surrounding our immigration laws. Understandably, the lack of credibility the federal government has on this issue gives merit to the skepticism of many about future immigration reform."
Under the legislation as drafted, money for border enforcement would be collected gradually as illegal immigrants pay the fines and fees needed to achieve legal status. The letter asked Bush to secure the border before other elements of the immigration measure go into effect, and the president agreed in his remarks to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
"One common concern is whether the government will provide the resources to meet the goals in the bill. They say, 'It's fine to talk about it, are you actually going to do something?'" he said.
"To answer these concerns I support an amendment that will provide $4.4 billion in immediate additional funding for securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site," he said.
"By matching our benchmarks with these critical funds, we're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept."
Two Republican supporters of the legislation, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jon Kyl of Arizona, had previously proposed advanced funding.
"The moment the presidential signing pen meets the paper these funds will be available," Graham said in a statement welcoming Bush's remarks.
But Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., an opponent of the legislation, took a different view. "I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."
Even a decision to return the bill to the Senate floor does not guarantee its passage, given the intense opposition. "We've got people out there on both sides really ready to burn the place down," said Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the second-ranking Republican. "I don't think we ought to let that happen."
The calendar, too, presents obstacles to any attempt to pass the measure before the Senate begins a scheduled vacation in two weeks. Should they choose, critics of the immigration measure could slow progress on other measures Reid wants debated in the next two weeks. The effect would be to further reduce prospects for passage of the immigration bill.
They don’t give a crap. Even if they get voted out, they’ll take a cushy consulting job for some big outfit and knock down a couple hundred K a year.
Meanwhile, ordinary Americans get to send their kids to schools that are basically crippled by language and cultural differences.
I don’t think it has to do with votes unless our government is ready to literally hand over our country to Mexico or parts of it. The Mexicans are not going to vote Republican or Democrat. So I am confused as to why this is always interjected. Bush must know this as well as the Dims; so this might be a distraction or something to blame it on other than them.
Or to get whatever real agenda they are trying to ram through.
Can’t we make these people resign?
I do not think it will get out of the Senate, but I am in the minority in thinking this, so in addition to repeated calls to the Senators, we should start on the House. Tancredo’s amendment passing was a good sign, but we must put more pressure on both the Senate and House.
If this thing passes, someone needs to collect contributions and start a string of commercials listing all the names of those senators voting for the bill.
The government is going to need a lot more troops to take on its real enemy--Constitution-minded Americans. It's working on a plan to get tens of millions.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Bush is a Globalist..does that sound better ?
I don’t get the hurry for an omnibus approach. Why not solve the security issue first and then if they want a guest worker program work on that next?
I think it would be funny now that he has alienated everybody if he was impeached.
Bennett (R-UT),* Cochran (R-MS),* Coleman (R-MN),* Collins (R-ME),* Craig (R-ID),* Domenici (R-NM),Gregg (R-NH),Hatch (R-UT),Hutchison (R-TX),Kyl (R-AZ),Lott (R-MS),* McConnell (R-KY),Murkowski (R-AK),* Smith (R-OR),Snowe (R-ME) Stevens (R-AK),* Warner (R-VA)
In addition, Sen. Brownback (R-Kan.) didn't cast a vote last week but he was a strong YES voter for amnesty last year.
The following Senators voted NO on amnesty cloture both last year and last week. But our friends and our lobbying staff believe they need bolstering to keep them from falling for Ted Kennedy's latest amnesty.
Burr (R-N.C.),Chambliss (R-Ga.),Ensign (R-Nev.),Isakson (R-Ga.),Thune (R-S.D.)
This Republican Congress is in a state of shambles. Kyl (R-AZ),Lott (R-MS), McConnell (R-KY),Snowe (R-ME) are just about useless to the Republican Party.
Burr (R-N.C.),Chambliss (R-Ga.),Ensign (R-Nev.),Isakson (R-Ga.),Thune (R-S.D.) will get emailed from me and I hope every one will support them too.
We need a Charles Schumer Republican who can look for Republican candidates to run against the RINOs and build and party of fighters for Conservative values.
Charles Schumer’s work in recruiting Democrats to defeat Repubulican incumbents was crucial in the 2006 defeat.
The party leadership that governs the Republican party is not understanding the new politics involved in winning.
Though they promise to be back in power in 2 years they don’t have the know-how.
Big losses in 2008 and 2010 to come if these dinosaurs are not removed from leadership!
Thanks for the heads up, floriduh voter. Let’s pass the word.
As per Numbers USA, these senators MAY FLIP FOR TEDDY & GWB to Revive the Immigration Bill:
Bennett (R-UT),* Cochran (R-MS),* Coleman (R-MN),* Collins (R-ME),* Craig (R-ID),* Domenici (R-NM),Gregg (R-NH),Hatch (R-UT),Hutchison (R-TX),Kyl (R-AZ),Lott (R-MS),* McConnell (R-KY),Murkowski (R-AK),* Smith (R-OR),Snowe (R-ME) Stevens (R-AK),* Warner (R-VA)
In addition, Sen. Brownback (R-Kan.) didn’t cast a vote last week but he was a strong YES voter for amnesty last year.
The following Senators voted NO on amnesty cloture both last year and last week. But our friends and our lobbying staff believe they need bolstering to keep them from falling for Ted Kennedy’s latest amnesty.
Burr (R-N.C.),Chambliss (R-Ga.),Ensign (R-Nev.),Isakson (R-Ga.),Thune (R-S.D.)
Thanks for the info.
You're obviously just a nativist, bigot, redneck who thinks your opinion as an upstanding tax paying, voting citizen matters. Just cast your vote for the party line and send in your money as a donation and shut up. Let the educated elitists make the decisions for you.
Unwashed masses like us should be seen and not heard.
Thanks.
Anybody with an IQ higher than the arbitrary 70 that the White House administration thinks we all have knows the answer to the question of “Where is the Fence”.
Even Bible Thumping “bigots” who agree with the President and his neocons and think that we can solve the centuries old Sunni Shia religious war through a ballot box like us know the truth. (Let’s be honest, Democracy is overrated. People are generally too stupid to govern themselves. We need a benign Monarchy with me in charge)
Back on topic, we can build 353,000 miles of soundproof fencing around American freeways so Bob and Diane don’t have to hear freeway traffic while grilling on their deck. But we can’t build the fence on the border that was already authorized in an election year stunt in 10/06 unless we grant illegal aliens legal status? The bill authorizing a border fence has been passed. Laws against hiring illegals have already been passed. Just admit it. Your cronies in corporate America want the cheap labor so you look the other way as people cross the border. Same reason “Republicans” are now more receptive to the idea of socialized healthcare. GM and Ford will go broke if the Gubmint doesn’t bail them out. They spend millions lobbying and you listen.
I think what drives people nuts more than anything is the outright condescending arrogance and elitism. WE ARE NOT STUPID.
PLEASE STOP LYING TO US. IT ONLY PISSES US OFF MORE.
PS: To our elected Public Serpents....we are sorry that we are actually paying attention and doing our civic duty by listening to talk radio and engaging our fellow citizens in discussion on the www. I’m sure you miss the good old days when backroom deals in a smoky room were how things got done while the sheeple just took it.
I saved off that Nada Peso picture and the next day, I got a mail asking for monetary support for the Repub Senatorial Committee. I actually laughed as I walked to the mail box with a printout of that included!
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