Earlier today the Senate failed to agree to end debate on comprehensive immigration reform, threatening the fate of the bipartisan legislation. Senators supporting the effort are scrambling to achieve a last-ditch attempt to save the measure. The Border Trade Alliance continues to monitor this legislation and will post developments as they occur on the Border Blog.
Senate Refuses to Limit Debate on Immigration Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
The Senate refused to limit debate on overhauling U.S. immigration law as Democrats urged President George W. Bush to rally Republicans to rescue the legislation. The 33 votes to shut off debate were 27 short of the 60 needed by Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to bring to a conclusion debate on legislation to grant legal status to 12 million undocumented aliens. He said he would seek another vote later today. If it fails, “the bill’s gone,” Reid said. “What else can I do?” Read the full article…
Immigration Bill Suffers Setback - Washington Post
The proposed overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws teetered on the verge of collapse today, after four Republican senators switched their positions to help pass an amendment early this morning that would close the bill’s guest worker program after five years. A united Republican majority — along with 15 Democrats — at midday blocked a vote to cut off debate on the measure, vowing to keep offering amendments until they are satisfied their voices have been heard. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) countered with a vow to try one more time this evening to end debate, appealing to President Bush and his top aides to bring Republicans along. Read the full article…
Guest worker amendment threatens immigration bill: A proposal to limit the program to five years, which passed by one vote, could undo a fragile Senate compromise on the full measure - LA Times
A fragile compromise on immigration legislation could come unglued today after the Senate, by a margin of a single vote, limited the bill’s guest worker program to five years. The 49-48 vote for the amendment came shortly before the Senate recessed after midnight this morning. It was sponsored by Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.). Read the full article…
How they voted: Senate vote by state on immigration amendment - AP
WASHINGTON (AP) - This is the 49 to 48 roll call by which the Senate passed an amendment to the proposed immigration overhaul that would end a temporary worker program after five years. On this vote, a “yes” vote was a vote to end the program after five years and a “no” vote was a vote against adding this time limit to the program. Read the full article…
1 Comment
This mess needs to be clleared up. It is not going to be cleared up the way things are going. If peoplle think we have problems now they need to wait and see what wiil happen if we dont pass something soon.
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