Senate resuscitates immigration bill

[peejay 327]

Senate resuscitates immigration bill

By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT

2007 Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — The Senate today breathed new life into a controversial immigration bill that is fully embraced by no one, yet is billed by its champions as the nation's best chance to overhaul a broken system.

On a 64-35 vote, senators agreed to resume debate on legislation that was yanked from the Senate floor earlier this month. The vote, though only procedural, was a key hurdle because its failure almost surely would have spelled the end of any immigration reform effort in Congress this year.

The White House, business and other interests supportive of the Senate bill lobbied relentlessly in recent days to secure the 60 votes necessary to resume the debate. Their efforts, however, weren't enough to sway Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas, who last week announced their opposition to returning to a bill they view as badly flawed.

Like many conservatives on and off Capitol Hill, the Texas senators have major problems with the legislation's most controversial aspect, granting legal status and eventual citizenship to most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

The bill's architects have championed what they call a "grand bargain": Legalization for illegal immigrants, coupled with significantly tougher enforcement at the border and in the interior of the United States, and a temporary worker program to fill unmet U.S. labor needs.

The bill has provoked a firestorm on the right, with conservatives dismissing it as nothing more than an "amnesty" for lawbreakers that will spur more illegal immigration. Democrats have different problems with the bill, disliking a guestworker program they view as a threat to American workers and viewing the legislation as having moved too far to the right.

Still, poll after poll suggests a sizable majority of the American public, while concerned about illegal immigration and wanting stiffer enforcement, favors some way of granting legal status to those here illegally.

Even as the bill survived its first major test, advocates weren't resting on their laurels.

The Senate will debate about two dozen amendments this week, several of which could shatter the fragile bipartisan coalition supporting the bill. And the legislation faces another major test Thursday, when supporters will have to summon 60 votes to shut off an inevitable filibuster and move the bill forward for a final vote expected Friday.

At the White House this morning, President Bush expressed optimism that the Senate will complete work on the bill this week, shifting attention to the House.

"I view this as an historic opportunity for Congress to act, for Congress to replace a system that is not working with one that we believe will work a lot better," Bush said. "If you dislike the status quo on immigration, then you ought to be supporting a comprehensive approach to making sure the system works."

But House Republicans made clear their distaste for the Senate bill at a news conference today, predicting choppy times ahead for a measure they view as amnesty.

"It's dead on arrival in the House," said Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4920888.html

What poll is the Houston Chronicle crowing about? This pro-illegal alien rag is as far out of touch with reality as Teddy Kennedy, Bush, Harry Reid, McCain, and the others that have attempted to shove this ####### through the Senate behind closed doors. Of course...the Houston Chronicle is also available en Español. Need I say more?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank God for the House.

[L_n_O 3]

"It's dead on arrival in the House," said Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind.

nice quote

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Still, poll after poll suggests a sizable majority of the American public, while concerned about illegal immigration and wanting stiffer enforcement, favors some way of granting legal status to those here illegally.

I'm surprised you highlighted that, peejay, but I'm glad you did. Hopefully, some of you stubborn ideologues will concede to the will of the people on this one.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Steven,

Well said. Nativism has always been a losing cause in this country; no reason to believe that's different now. Americans are nothing if not just and amnesty is just.

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

Still, poll after poll suggests a sizable majority of the American public, while concerned about illegal immigration and wanting stiffer enforcement, favors some way of granting legal status to those here illegally.

I'm surprised you highlighted that, peejay, but I'm glad you did. Hopefully, some of you stubborn ideologues will concede to the will of the people on this one.

and just because this so called majority says so, that makes it right?

[GaryC 7]

Still, poll after poll suggests a sizable majority of the American public, while concerned about illegal immigration and wanting stiffer enforcement, favors some way of granting legal status to those here illegally.

I'm surprised you highlighted that, peejay, but I'm glad you did. Hopefully, some of you stubborn ideologues will concede to the will of the people on this one.

I don't know where this guy conducted his poll, maybe in Mexico? Here is the real choice of the people.

Zogby Poll: 65% “this bill represents amnesty for illegal immigrants"

......Though most said they opposed the bill, there was a majority for one of its key reforms.

Sixty-one percent backed a temporary guest worker program, where workers would return to their home countries after a fixed period of time.

But only a minority, 44 percent to 48 percent, favored some form of legalization as the best way to deal with the estimated 12 million people living in the United States illegally.

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=4041

Edited June 27, 2007 by Iniibig ko si Luz forever

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Still, poll after poll suggests a sizable majority of the American public, while concerned about illegal immigration and wanting stiffer enforcement, favors some way of granting legal status to those here illegally.

I'm surprised you highlighted that, peejay, but I'm glad you did. Hopefully, some of you stubborn ideologues will concede to the will of the people on this one.

Rather stubborn than insane.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Amnesty is just.

Really? By that measure, shoplifters should no longer fear prosecution. There are millions of them and according to your logic, it would be just to just let them have at it.

[GaryC 7]

Steven,

Well said. Nativism has always been a losing cause in this country; no reason to believe that's different now. Americans are nothing if not just and amnesty is just.

It isn't nativism to oppose law breaking illegal aliens. I support legal immigration. The law breaking gate crashers are the ones most Americans oppose.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Are you fellas going to sit on your hands and hold your breath when they aren't sent back to Mexico?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

When I was in jr. high, pickin fruit was a summer time job, thats how I earned my money! The state owned orchards and made the welfare folks work for their bennies! Bust the border? should never be a free tcket to paradise? You open border folks have got to be kiddin. What the hec !

Edited June 27, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[mawilson 2,133]

Amnesty is just.

Really? By that measure, shoplifters should no longer fear prosecution. There are millions of them and according to your logic, it would be just to just let them have at it.

I also love the $5,000 "tax penalty" for illegal aliens. I'm totally cool with not paying taxes for

10-20 years and then paying a $5,000 "penalty." B)

[Alex+R 0]

Amnesty is just.

Really? By that measure, shoplifters should no longer fear prosecution. There are millions of them and according to your logic, it would be just to just let them have at it.

I also love the $5,000 "tax penalty" for illegal aliens. I'm totally cool with not paying taxes for

10-20 years and then paying a $5,000 "penalty." B)

That works for me, especially when you consider the average wages an undocumented worker makes, $5,000 of taxes is kind of a lot, especially since they'd probably be refunded most of it if they'd paid it as taxes. The other thing is that quite a lot of them DID already pay those taxes, so it really is a penalty on top of other taxes.

Show me an illegal alien making $100,000 a year and grateful for a measly $5,000 penalty, and I'll show you a highly motivated and smart person who I want working in the American economy anyway.

[mawilson 2,133]

Show me an illegal alien making $100,000 a year and grateful for a measly $5,000 penalty, and I'll show you a highly motivated and smart person who I want working in the American economy anyway.

Do you have any idea how much a construction worker makes? It can be easily upward of $100,000 a year.