Free Republic

Senate negotiators of a compromise immigration bill are writing a catchall amendment, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to bolster enforcement provisions of the bill, including a more robust "touchback" requirement for illegal immigrants. Republicans outside the negotiating team are asking that Graham's amendment, as well as a few others, get a floor vote before a cloture is attempted on the bill. "If they want the bill to have a chance, that's what has to happen," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who said he is willing to vote for the first cloture motion to proceed to the bill to allow...

WASHINGTON, June 15 — At 4:30 p.m. on June 7, the Roman Catholic Church defied the sponsors of a comprehensive immigration bill and urged the Senate not to move toward final passage of the measure without significant changes. A few hours later, after the Senate rejected his motion to end debate on the bill, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, pulled it from the Senate floor. His action prompted advocates to rally behind the bill. Within 24 hours, the Catholic Church and many business, labor and Hispanic groups were urging the Senate to resurrect it. They had...

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...

Let's cut to the chase here. The pro-amnesty politicians in Washington think that the little snit thrown by the American people is now over. Now that we've had our fun -- now that we've chased the amnesty bill from the floor of the Senate -- they think that they can now bring it back with some meaningless words about amendments and the American people will let it slide this time. OK ... so Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, the majority and minority leaders, have reached some sort of a "deal" that will allow amendments to be proposed to the amnesty...