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Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Watch- The Seven Who Could Stop the Senate Immigration Bill
*****Update******
Cloture passed 64-35
The bill goes forward and amendments will be offered and voted upon. Look for a final vote on the bill next week before the July 4th recess.
But, will they?
If you wish to be frustrated, Michelle has the contact information for the seven.
The GOP voter base will be watching the Senate today.
Woe be to the GOP Senator and the National Republican Senatorial Committee should cloture be voted today.
Stay tuned……
Update:
Vote looms at 11:50 AM EDT.
Update #2:
Tony Snow says President misspoke.
Freudian slip?
Also, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated that she requires the President to deliver 70 GOP votes in the House to give Democrats “cover” for the bill.
The vote has begun in the Senate.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Illegal Immigration Watch: GOP Offers Senate Immigration Bill Change – Go Home First
Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate to Return to Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Reid and McConnell Revive Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: New Life for Senate Immigration Bill?
Michael Ramirez on Paris Hilton AND Illegal Immigration
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration
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Illegal Immigration Watch: GOP Offers Senate Immigration Bill Change – Go Home First
A Mexican national peers through the US Mexico border wall 10 June 2007 in San Ysidro, California. Backers of US immigration reform vowed Sunday to hustle deeply divisive legislation through the Senate this week to document 12 million illegal aliens while beefing up border security.
GOP Backers Offer Immigration Bill Change
Provision Would Require Illegal Residents to Return Home to Gain Legal Status
With a crucial test vote scheduled for today, Republican supporters of a sweeping immigration bill threw their weight yesterday behind a significant change to the legislation that would force illegal immigrants to return to their home countries to apply for legal status.
The change could rattle the delicate bipartisan coalition that forged the Senate’s immigration overhaul, but supporters say it may be necessary to pull in enough Republican votes to secure passage by week’s end. The bill’s authors will have to muster 60 votes today to bring it back up for consideration. The legislation would then have to clear potential amendments before a showdown Thursday over whether to cut off debate and vote on final passage Friday.
This “touchback” requirement is a JOKE because the people here illegally would remain anonymous, continue to live and work here and would simply not apply for a “Z” Visa. Their children would continue to be American citizens.
Flap doubts that the GOP caucus would ignore the GOP base of voters to approve this provision so as to make the entire bill acceptable.
The American voters overwhelmingly do NOT support this bill.
The latest Rasmussen Poll is here:
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 22% of American voters currently favor the legislation. That’s down a point from 23% a couple of weeks ago and down from 26% when the debate in the Senate began. Fifty percent (50%) oppose the Senate bill while 28% are not sure.
Among the public, there is a bi-partisan lack of enthusiasm for the Senate bill. It is supported by 22% of Republicans, 23% of Democrats, and 22% of those not affiliated with either major party. It is opposed by 52% of Republicans, 50% of Democrats, and 48% of unaffiliateds.
Will this GOP “touchback” requirement be a poison pill for the Democrats? Or will they pass along the bill to the House and amend it in conference later?
The GOP base does NOT trust the Republican sponsors of this bill.
It would best to KILL this bill and focus on enforcing existing law and bolstering border security FIRST.
We will know soon whether there are sufficient GOP votes to provide cloture.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate to Return to Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Reid and McConnell Revive Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: New Life for Senate Immigration Bill?
Michael Ramirez on Paris Hilton AND Illegal Immigration
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration
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Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate to Return to Immigration Bill
Senator Edward Kennedy discusses immigration reform legislation during a news conference in Washington Thursday, June 21, 2007. Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is at right.
Senate returning to immigration bill
Senators pushing a new immigration policy appealed Sunday to wavering supporters ahead of renewed debate on securing the borders and dealing with 12 million undocumented immigrants.
A fragile compromise was pulled from the Senate in early June, then resurrected after bipartisan negotiations with the White House. The bill awaits a crucial test vote this week. With several senators distancing themselves from the proposal, the outcome was too close to call.
“We’ll see if between the two parties we have 60 votes” needed to keep the bill moving toward a final vote, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last week said his support for the bill hinges on the outcome of a series of amendments agreed to as part of the compromise to revive the legislation.
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who has faced critical ads back home over his support for the bill, said Sunday, “I’m not committed to voting for the final product. The wheels may come off. But I am committed to trying.”
The Senate GOP will be making a fantastically poor move if they give the Democrats votes in order to invoke cloture for this bill:
1. The bill is NOT supported by a majority of the American people.
2. The bill is overwhelmingly NOT supported by the GOP voter base.
3. It strips the GOP Presidential candidates away from an issue that has voter support.
Overall this bill is a BIG LOSER for the GOP.
Note, even Trent Lott is backing away from immediately supporting the bill without seeing the final revisions/amendments. He must be feeling the heat from his constituents.
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Illegal Immigration Watch: Reid and McConnell Revive Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: New Life for Senate Immigration Bill?
Michael Ramirez on Paris Hilton AND Illegal Immigration
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration
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Illegal Immigration Watch: Reid and McConnell Revive Senate Immigration Bill
Republican Policy Lunch with President George W. Bush on Capitol Hill in Washington June 12, 2007. Senate leaders agreed on Thursday to revive a stalled immigration overhaul after lawmakers worked out a plan to overcome conservatives’ objections to a bill that would legalize millions of immigrants.
Senate leaders revive immigration bill
Senate leaders agreed on Thursday to revive a stalled immigration overhaul after lawmakers worked out a plan to overcome conservatives’ objections to a bill that would legalize millions of immigrants.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), a Nevada Democrat, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), a Kentucky Republican, said in a joint statement the Senate would reconsider the legislation after completing work on an energy bill some time next week.
“We met this evening with several of the senators involved in the immigration bill negotiations,” the two leaders said in a statement.
“Based on that discussion, the immigration bill will return to the Senate floor after completion of the energy bill.”
The new agreement would limit the number of amendments and include a measure to ensure funding for tighter border security measures, something sought by conservatives, lawmakers and aides said.
Ok, let’s see the amendments or NO DEAL.
If the GOP and President attempt to RAM this bill though the Senate next week, you may see all GOP Presidential candidates directly criticize the President.
And the GOP base?
GOP voters have already deserted the President.
Previous:
Illegal Immigration Watch: New Life for Senate Immigration Bill?
Michael Ramirez on Paris Hilton AND Illegal Immigration
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration
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Illegal Immigration Watch: New Life for Senate Immigration Bill?
New life for the Senate Immigration bill that was “KILLED” last week by the GOP?How will the newly revised bill mollify the GOP base? By spinning the “AMNESTY” with a SECURITY FOCUS.
Will conservative Senators like Jim DeMint opposing this measure be “ROLLED” by John McCain et. al?Since debate will begin next week, let the phone calls and public outrage begin anew.
Here is a list of Senators who Michelle says are the most likely to WAFFLE/FLIP:
* Alexander (R-TN)
Bennett (R-UT)
* Cochran (R-MS)
* Coleman (R-MN)
* Collins (R-ME)
* Cornyn (R-TX)
* Craig (R-ID)
* Domenici (R-NM)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
* McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
* Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stevens (R-AK)
* Warner (R-VA)* = up for re-election in 2008.
Go ahead and give them a call.
Your handy-dandy amnesty hotline number again is 1-800-417-7666.
Stay tuned…….Previous:
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Michael Ramirez on Paris Hilton AND Illegal Immigration
Gallegly: Where’s the Outcry Over the 21,000 Other Early Releases?
Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA24) on Friday said Paris Hilton’s premature release from jail is not the anomaly it is made out to be. Even if she had not been ordered back to jail, after just three days in jail Hilton actually would have served more time in Los Angeles County jail than thousands who have committed far more egregious crimes.
“Paris Hilton should serve her entire sentence, as should anyone who flouts our laws. She repeatedly violated her probation and was given a lenient 23 days after originally being sentenced to 46. If she wants to avoid jail in the future, she should grow up and become a responsible citizen – after paying her debt to society,” Gallegly said.
“But Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is being disingenuous to complain that Sheriff Lee Baca has broken the law by releasing Hilton without bringing the matter back before a judge. Baca releases more than 21,000 people every year without serving their sentences – thousands of whom are booked and released the same day – and Delgadillo hasn’t complained about any of them. Hilton wasn’t getting preferential treatment; this is status quo in Los Angeles County, and Delgadillo knows it.”
Rather than being released for having a rash, or losing their appetite, the others are let go because of jail overcrowding. And why are the jails overcrowded? Baca appeared before the House Judiciary Committee last August, where Gallegly is a senior member, and clearly stated the problem. Forty percent of Los Angeles County inmates, Baca testified, are illegal immigrants. Take away the illegal immigrant population and overcrowding ceases to be an issue. (Emphasis Flap’s)
Gallegly is absolutely RIGHT.
Illegal immigration is so acutely impacting Los Angeles County jails that very few convicted offenders serve even one half of their sentence. Flap cites the case of former LOST star Michelle Rodriguez who served less than five hours in a Los Angeles County jail for a DUI probation violation last year.
And what about LAPD’s special order 40? And Los Angeles being a “sanctuary city?” Of course, this is BULL.
Paris Hilton should serve her time but then again so should the other LA County convicted offenders.The illegal aliens should be DEPORTED and the border secured so they cannot return to the United States.
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Technorati Tags: Michael Ramirez
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Michael Ramirez on President Bush and Illegal Immigration
Grass Roots Roared and Immigration Plan Collapsed
Organizers described a new Internet-linked national constituency that emerged among Republicans, much like the one that Democrats pioneered during the presidential candidacy in 2004 of Howard Dean. But many of these Republicans are enraged at their party leaders, including Mr. Kyl and Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supported the bill, and they feel betrayed by Mr. Bush.
Opposition to the Senate bill brought together many Americans in states where immigration was not traditionally a fervor-inspiring issue, but where illegal immigration has become more visible in recent years.
“Every state is now a border state,†said Susan Tully, the national field director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has long supported a crackdown on illegal immigration. The bill’s opponents also objected to how it was handled, with the huge measure negotiated behind closed doors between White House and Senate lawmakers, without any hearings or other public input.
“Ordinary people like me rose up and put a stop to it,†said William Murphy, a retired policeman from Evansville, Wis., one of the Grassfire.org volunteers who delivered petitions to his senators. On Thursday before the vote, he said, he put in new calls to 15 senators.
Flap’s best bet is that this bill is ABSOLUTELY DEAD. NO GOP Senator except John McCain will dare raise it again.
And for President Bush?
If W persists in pressing for passage, he may not even be given a courtesy documentary film at the 2008 GOP Presidential nominating committee convention. The Presidential candidates would rather run against him and is administration’s policies.
Yes, the GOP base is THAT UPSET with him.
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Technorati Tags: Michael RamirezIllegal Immigration, George W Bush
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Illegal Immigration Watch: Reid’s Cloture Motion Fails – Is Senate Immigration Bill DEAD?
*****Update*****A second cloture vote has failed in the Senate and Majority Leader Reid has “pulled” the bill from the Senate floor. The Senate will move onto other legislation.The Senate Immigration bill has DIED in the Senate for now.Senator Reid has stated there may be ways to amend the current bill.Senators will work on acceptable amendments and Reid bring the bill back for another cloture vote.
When will this be?
Probably NEVER.
Senate Refuses to Limit Debate on Immigration Plan
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.
Reid appealed to Bush to twist the arms of Republicans who voted against limiting debate, saying an inability to pass the legislation would produce headlines that the “president fails again.”
“This is the president’s bill. He has worked long and hard,” Reid said. “This bill that’s on the floor is not a Democratic bill, it is a bill that was worked on by Democrats and Republicans in cooperation with the president.”
Looks like the Senate Immigration Bill is on life support after Senate Majority Leader’s Cloture motion failed this morning. Reid has previously stated that he’d pull the bill from the floor if he doesn’t get 60 votes, saying there’s been ample time to debate and vote on this bill — and that he’s got an ambitious legislative schedule ahead.
But, what Reid is NOT saying is the Democrat leadership wants to prohibit GOP corrective amendments that the GOP base demand. So, he blames President Bush.
Damn…. Reid sounds like a broken record – blame Bush.
The bill looks dead.
Let’s hope so.
Update:
Apparently not.
There will be another cloture vote this evening.
Even after it failed this morning, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid says there will be an identical procedural vote later today on the immigration reform bill. That vote, which requires 60 for passage, would limit debate and amendments and put the bill on the path to a final vote. It failed earlier 33-63, with all the Republicans and about a third of Democrats voting against Reid.
Moments ago in a off-camera briefing, Reid said if the vote failed again he’d pull the bill from the floor indefinitely saying, “the bill’s over with. The bill’s gone.” He never said it was dead, but indicated he clearly had other priorities to put before the Senate in the coming weeks.
If the GOP fails to block this bill, there will be an uprising of the GOP base. If Senators like Trent Lott ( who spoke this morning) think the GOP voter base will sit still for this,they are sadly mistaken.
There WILL BE an angry reaction for this GOP lay down.
And CONSEQUENCES.
Previous:
Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Immigration Bill Supporters More Optimistic
Illegal Immigration Watch: Recipe for Failure
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and the Senate Illegal Immigration Amesty Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: WSJ and the Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Republican National Committee Fires Phone Solicitors
Miss USA Booed by Mexican Miss Universe Audience
Mark Steyn Watch: So Much News, So Little Sense
Illegal Immigration Watch: The Gang of 12
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Opposes Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Postpones Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Rush to Border Judgment
The Illegal Immigration Archive
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration
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Mitt Romney Watch: Flipping on Immigration AGAIN
Former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney being interviewed by the Lakeland Ledger in Florida, May 25, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle: Romney backs off stand of registering migrants
He seeks to offset McCain’s support of immigration billHeading into today’s televised Republican debate in New Hampshire, an early primary state, two of the top GOP presidential candidates have clashed over the highly charged issue of illegal immigration.
But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — trying to take advantage of a backlash against the position of Arizona Sen. John McCain — appears to have backed away from his calls for an estimated 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants to register with the government, as he told The Chronicle in March.
Romney, who has been highly critical McCain’s support for the immigration proposal now being debated in the Senate, highlighted three immigration reform priorities this week: securing the U.S. border, putting in place an “enforceable employment verification system” to ensure that employers hire only legal workers, and allowing “no special pathway or privilege to citizenship for those here illegally.”
But in the March interview with The Chronicle, Romney said “the first thing I’d like them (illegal immigrants) to do is to register, so I know how many there are, and what their circumstances are,” including whether they have had children born in America, how long they have been here and whether they hold jobs.
“And on that basis, we can see who would receive temporary employment visas and who would instead be required to return home,” he said.
The current Senate immigration proposal, backed by President Bush, would create a new Z visa, which would call for those in the country illegally to register with authorities, pay a fine, learn English and begin a multiyear process to gain permanent residency.
Another change in position for the Mittster. Or has he NOT thought this issue through?
Flap KNOWS McCain will ask Mitt tonight what his immigration policy position is besides being against the Senate Immigration Bill (which provides for registration with the Z-Visa).
Does Mitt have one? Or is he a Pander-Bear?
Mitt’s other FLIPS:
Illegal aliens mowing his lawn
Scientology book one of his favorites
Previous:
Mitt Romney Watch: Modulating on Immigration?
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Immigration Bill Supporters More Optimistic
Senator Jon Kyl speaks about immigration legislation during a press conference on Capitol Hill, May 24, 2007, in Washington, D.C. Listening, from left to right are Senators Dianne Feinstein, Lindsey Graham, Mel Martinez, Arlen Specter and Edward Kennedy. The U.S. Senate, by a single vote, defeated a bid to place a five-year expiration date on a guest worker program that is a cornerstone of a proposed overhaul of U.S. immigration law.
Backers of Immigration Bill More Optimistic
After a week at home with their constituents, the Senate architects of a delicate immigration compromise are increasingly convinced that they will hold together this week to pass an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, with momentum building behind one unifying theme: Today’s immigration system is too broken to go unaddressed.
Congress’s week-long Memorial Day recess was expected to leave the bill in tatters. But with a week of action set to begin today, the legislation’s champions say they believe that the voices of opposition, especially from conservatives, represent a small segment of public opinion. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who led negotiations on the bill for his party, said the flood of angry calls and protests that greeted the deal two weeks ago has since receded every day.
Flap knows of very few folks in California that support this grand compromise bill.
Everyone hates it. But, everyone hates the status quo and President Bush’s inaction to enforce the existing laws MORE.
But, calling California Senators Feinstein and Boxer is a waste of time and most California voters know it. They are insulated against public opinion, since neither will be up for re-election in 2008.Flap predicts that this bill may not pass the United States Senate but will CERTAINLY FAIL in the House since there will not be the 70 plus GOP members to give cover to the Democrats who represent districts who may not be so predisposed to support the bill. If GOP House members support the bill, then Flap looks for even greater GOP losses in 2008. And contributions – well, we have seen already how they have been affected.
California voters are “tired” and “frustrated” by the inaction of politicians on both sides of the aisle. They will make their frustrations known soon in 2008 Presidential polling and the 2008 House election cycle, despite what the Senate does this week.
And President Bush will be down to 20% approval if he does not demand major changes to the bill. Watch how fast the GOP Presidential candidates (except McCain) run against the President on this issue and the Iraq War.
Stay tuned….
Previous:
Illegal Immigration Watch: Recipe for Failure
Michael Ramirez on President Bush and the Senate Illegal Immigration Amesty Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: WSJ and the Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Republican National Committee Fires Phone Solicitors
Miss USA Booed by Mexican Miss Universe Audience
Mark Steyn Watch: So Much News, So Little Sense
Illegal Immigration Watch: The Gang of 12
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Opposes Senate Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Senate Postpones Immigration Bill
Illegal Immigration Watch: Rush to Border Judgment
The Illegal Immigration Archive
Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration