Byrd to delay Senate vote

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, March 19, 2002 | By Stephen Dinan

[JohnHuang2]

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia Democrat, yesterday said he will delay passage of border-security legislation because it now contains a provision of amnesty for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.

"It is lunacy

[JohnHuang2]

Quote of the Day by MoscowMike

[Bogey78O]

How the heck did we end up on the same side as this racist old Rat?

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

sh*t happens lol

[RnMomof7]

"This senator from West Virginia will not be pressured into passing legislation," he said. "Senators have a responsibility to consider and to thoroughly debate legislation that comes before it, especially legislation that raises as many concerns as Section 245(i). And I intend to raise those concerns that the administration chose not to address last week when the House acted on the 245(i) provision."

I NEVER thought I would applaud Robert Bird..Go Robert!

[dittomom]

Oh, THAT Senate vote. Drat!

[RodgerD]

A pandering administration put us there.

[spectre]

I dunno. But I am cheering him on.

[over3Owithabrain]

The Democrats have been desperately seeking a wedge issue to hurt Bush with. Wouldn't it be sadly ironic if this is it?

[doug from upland]

Maybe he can make up for his impeachment acquittal vote. No, nothing can make up for that.

[Bogey78O]

Yea except the Dems aren't that upset with it's inclusion. They voted in greater numbers for it than Reps did.

If Bush is playing this he's playing it too tight and high stakes.

[GeronL]

If racist Byrd is against it, maybe we should reconsider our opposition?

[Bogey78O]

Sure he can. Massive Stroke under a Republican governor.

[PRND21]

Move to the head of the class.

[over3Owithabrain]

It's fashionable now that anytime Bush abandons conservative principles and moves left, someone "explains" the grand scheme behind it all. Yeah, Bush really showed them Dems by removing any hope of school vouchers, didn't he? He'll sure fix their wagon by signing CFR!

[RickyJ]

Bush is not so good at playing this political game as he thought he was. He has managed to alienate his base and now the democrats will get credit, thanks to Robert Byrd, of stopping his insane plan to give amnesty to illegal aliens. Bush is toast in 2004! Toast I tell you.

[goldstategop]

Bless your heart Robert Byrd. Help us kill it and we'll let W. Va get all the pork you ask for!

[TLBSHOW]

Mr. Byrd held up action in December on the legislation to increase border security, a measure taken in response to the September 11 attacks. The administration and House leaders had hoped attaching the amnesty provision would push the Democrat-controlled Senate to act, but instead it just fed Mr. Byrd's demand for a full debate on the bill.

The border-security provisions would reduce the number of visas issued to visitors from countries that sponsor terrorism, tighten the requirements on those entering on student visas and require federal agencies to share information through a common computer system so they can better track immigrants' movements. Three of the 19 air pirates in the attacks had overstayed their visas.

House members have voted twice to pass the border-security provisions, and Greg Crist, a spokesman for Mr. Armey, said it is time for the Senate to act.

"We're not sure why the senator would oppose something that builds on the existing network of security since [September 11]," Mr. Crist said. "It boggles our minds in the House, and we'll keep trying."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I am so confused now!

Bush and Rove pulled a smart move or was it a dumb move!

Maybe it depends on who the audience is?

Who will the Hispanics blame?