As I Suspected
It seems that the rush to force through a “compromise” illegal immigration reform through the Senate has been stalled by a lot of objections from both sides of the debate.
The measure, which also tightens border security and workplace enforcement measures, unites a group of influential liberals, centrists and conservatives and has White House backing, but it has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. In a nod to that opposition, Senate leaders won't seek to complete it before a hoped-for Memorial Day deadline.
"It would be to the best interests of the Senate … that we not try to finish this bill this week," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., as the chamber began debate on the volatile issue. "I think we could, but I'm afraid the conclusion wouldn't be anything that anyone wanted."
The bipartisan compromise cleared its first hurdle Monday with a bipartisan Senate vote to begin debate on a separate immigration measure. Still, it faces significant obstacles as lawmakers seek dozens of modifications to its key elements.
Republicans want to make the bill tougher on the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Democrats want to change a new temporary worker program and reorder priorities in a merit-based system for future immigration that weights employability over family ties.
The unlikely coalition that brokered the deal, led by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., is plotting to protect the agreement from "deal-breaker" changes that would sap its support. The group will hold daily meetings starting Tuesday to determine whether proposed revisions would sink what they are calling their "grand bargain."
Not really a surprise. The real problem here is the way they were trying to get the thing passed before anyone had a chance to examine the details. Some folks are arguing that it is the best we can get. But how do we really know that if we aren't really given a chance to examine the details?
Immigration Reform | Gaius Tuesday, 22 May , 2007
By Jaded, Tuesday, 22 May , 2007 @ 10:23 am
The best we can get is crap and I am sick of the American public having to accept anything, the lawbreakers are going to have to accept border security and fines and jail for business’s who continue to hire them, that my friend is acceptance.