Free Republic

This is the letter GA Senators sent to POTUS this week.. We were "pretty loud" down here... I think they at least heard some faint noise emanating outside the beltway. DISCLAIMER: I still don't trust 'em... a'Tall ************* Dear Mr. President: Although the Senate's effort to reform our nation's immigration laws through the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 is stalled, illegal immigration remains our nation's number one domestic issue. We therefore believe it is incumbent upon us and our colleagues to tackle this issue and not leave this problem for future generations to solve. As...

Senate conservatives have been warned by Republican leaders that they must either accept a series of largely symbolic floor votes on a handful of amendments to the immigration reform legislation or see themselves shut out of the process altogether when the chamber resumes work on the bill later this year, GOP lawmakers and aides said Tuesday...

Just look at the tireless efforts to find compromise by the supporters of the immigration bill: Negotiators also were considering harsher penalties for immigrants who overstay their visas or re-enter the country illegally, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.“If you had mandatory jail time” for such offenses, Graham said, “I think it would create a deterrent.”Another possible amendment, he said, would prohibit employers from participating in a new temporary worker program if they repeatedly break the law by hiring illegal workers. All great ideas. But they will be dismissed by the far right. Because the “Amnesty” phrase in all their...

Senate Republicans told President Bush he could help revive an immigration overhaul by requesting money for already authorized border security measures....Senators said Bush could restore faith, and reassure them, if he sent Congress an emergency supplemental spending bill to pay for some of those promises... McConnell, R-Ky., said the discussion centered on the emergency supplemental spending idea. “That was discussed, and a number of my members do think that would be a good idea,” he said... The proposal comes as Reid and McConnell continue negotiating a deal that could result in the Senate resuming debate, perhaps as early as next...

<p>We respectfully ask that your Administration enforce the border security laws that have already been authorized by Congress regardless of whether the Senate passes the immigration reform bill. The bill assumes that several critical border security benchmarks can be achieved within 18 months. These security triggers are already authorized under current law and can be completed without the immigration bill. We believe these enforcement measures are vital and should not wait until Congress passes additional immigration reforms.</p>