[speechlesstx]

Immigration deal survives Senate GOP threat as lawmakers scramble to finish bipartisan measure

By: JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS - Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The proposed immigration overhaul narrowly survived a potentially fatal challenge Wednesday as the Senate turned back a Republican bid to limit the illegal immigrants who could gain lawful status.

The close vote on a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to bar felons -- including those court-ordered to be deported -- from legalization reflected the delicate position of the contentious immigration bill, which remains under threat from the right and the left.

The vote was 51-46 against the amendment. Democrats succeeded in pulling support from Cornyn's proposal by winning adoption of a rival version that would bar a more limited set of criminals, including certain gang members and sex offenders, from gaining legalization. The Senate backed that amendment 66-32.

Cornyn had painted his effort as a "defining issue" for any presidential candidate -- a sign of the degree to which the contentious debate is bleeding over into the GOP campaign fray.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. alone among his party's presidential aspirants in backing the immigration measure, opposed Cornyn's bid and backed the Democratic alternative offered by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass...

After his defeat, Cornyn said those who voted against the proposal "failed to take an opportunity to help restore public confidence that we're actually serious about passing an immigration law that could actually work."

Many Americans will conclude instead that the bill's enforcement provisions will not be rigorously enforced, a problem that deeply undermined a 1986 immigration overhaul, he added.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. called Cornyn's measure "a stealth, Trojan horse amendment to kill the bill."

The underlying bill would legalize an estimated 12 million unlawful immigrants, tighten border security and institute new enforcement measures to prevent employers from hiring illegal workers. Its proponents were laboring to push through the compromise under new time constraints imposed by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. who plans to force a test-vote as early as Thursday morning to end debate on it and move on to other matters.

Senators in both parties implored Reid not to yank the measure, as he has threatened to do if the test-vote fails.

"I think it's safe to say that the United States Senate would be the laughingstock of the country if -- after all of the hyperbole and all of the publicity and all of the proposals and objections -- we're not able to finish this bill," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. a framer.

Reid, who has charged that some Republicans are trying to stall or kill the measure, began the day with a plea for swift progress on immigration. He quoted a passage from Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" to describe the depth of the dilemma the issue poses for lawmakers: "This mess is so big and so deep and so tall, we cannot pick it up at all," the Democratic leader rhymed, adding, "Some would say that is what we have in the Senate today."

Still, lawmakers in both parties said they were making headway in fighting off damaging amendments and moving the measure closer to passage.

"We have made very important and significant progress," Kennedy said.

Cornyn testified:

If we are serious about restoring respect for the rule of law, then we should, at the very least, prohibit felons and repeat offenders from getting the Z visa or path to legal status, including the opportunity to apply for legal permanent residency and citizenship. We should be willing to draw a bright line there.

I have to say, with all due respect, if we do not adopt this amendment, then we might as well retitle that section of this bill, ``No Felon Left Behind.'' It is clear, whether it is gang members, terrorists, sex offenders or repeat drunk drivers, these people have thumbed their noses at the law. While there is some common ground, and I congratulate Senator Kennedy for moving our way on this issue, it completely omits the category of felons who have shown no regard for our laws and who have shown themselves unwilling to live in peace with Americans in this country. We ought to draw a bright line there. My amendment would do that.

Why should we be sighing in relief over the Senate killing an amendment to bar felons from being legalized? "Whew, we almost lost those additional murderers, can't have too many blacks representing that segment of American society you know," Harry Reid was overheard saying according to an anonymous source (me). How can any US congressman even flinch at the idea of barring legalization of "felons who have shown themselves unwilling to live in peace with Americans in this country"?

[bushg]

I agree, lets call our senators and governors and ask that it be named "No felon left behind" here's a number . For Ohio senator is 202-224-2315 and the governor's office is 202-224-3353.

[tomder55]

Steve

THE MS-13 Empowerment Act of 2007

They are here to do the gang-banging Americans won't do


I think this is what Laura Ingraham calls a 'power to the people 'moment . I think both parties are pretty much sick of the backlash and are looking for a graceful exit from the issue that they can blame the other party for when asked why the bill failed .

We'll know for sure tomorrow I think.

[speechlesstx]

THE MS-13 Empowerment Act of 2007

I like it. :D

I'm surprised nobody has used the "tortilla" justification - we've caused the price of tortillas to jump in Mexico so much it's only fair they be given access to American tortillas. Oh that's right, it would reflect poorly on the Greenies, what with all that extra corn being planted for ethanol instead of food.

I think they've missed their graceful exit moment. Just in, the "fragile bipartisan compromise" failed the test vote today. Dirty Harry plans to give it more time though after all.

[speechlesstx]

your dog is a beauty

Thanks, I think he's a pretty amazing dog. Unfortunately, I buried him Monday night :(

[61971levy]

The best thing we can do right now is to put a moritorium on immigration for about 3 years and sort out the legal and illegals we have here now.