Immigration deal on verge of collapse
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Alex Barker, FT Syndication Service
WASHINGTON: A bipartisan compromise on immigration legislation crafted through months of negotiation in Congress appeared on the verge of collapse last Friday after disgruntled members of both parties joined forces to block the bill.
The defeat of the move to overhaul the troubled immigration system, which was backed by President George W. Bush and both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, throws into doubt one of the administration's top priorities.
It highlights how easily the divided political culture can undermine attempts to tackle big domestic issues, such as social security and healthcare. While the proposal has sparked fierce debate, polls suggest the public broadly supported the reforms.
Leading sponsors of the bill, which would have given the US's estimated 12m illegal immigrants a path to permanent status, vowed to keep fighting. Ted Kennedy, Democratic senator, promised to come "roaring back" and grab "victory out of the jaws of defeat".
Mr Bush used his national radio address to reiterate his strong support for the reforms while acknowledging the need to adapt.
"Like many senators, I believe the bill will need to be further improved along the way before it becomes law," he said.
However, as each side began blaming the other, analysts were sceptical that the proposal could be amended to unite its seemingly implacable opponents.
Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, has said he will try to reintroduce the legislation. Affter the vote he criticised Republicans for failing to deliver promised votes.
"This is the president's bill," he said. "Where are the president's people helping us with these votes?"
The bill's passage through the Senate was earlier blocked late on Thursday night by an unlikely alliance of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans.
Critics of the legislation on the right have claimed its measures offer an "amnesty" to undocumented workers who had broken the law.
The proposal has deeply divided the Republican party. Leading supporters of the reforms - such as Mr Bush and John McCain, the senator and presidential candidate - have been exposed to unusually harsh criticism from within the party ranks.
Dissenting Senate Democrats were far fewer in number.
Some senators said the measures made it too hard for divided families to get US green cards. Others were worried a new temporary worker programme would put American jobs at risk.
WASHINGTON: A bipartisan compromise on immigration legislation crafted through months of negotiation in Congress appeared on the verge of collapse last Friday after disgruntled members of both parties joined forces to block the bill.
The defeat of the move to overhaul the troubled immigration system, which was backed by President George W. Bush and both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, throws into doubt one of the administration's top priorities.
It highlights how easily the divided political culture can undermine attempts to tackle big domestic issues, such as social security and healthcare. While the proposal has sparked fierce debate, polls suggest the public broadly supported the reforms.
Leading sponsors of the bill, which would have given the US's estimated 12m illegal immigrants a path to permanent status, vowed to keep fighting. Ted Kennedy, Democratic senator, promised to come "roaring back" and grab "victory out of the jaws of defeat".
Mr Bush used his national radio address to reiterate his strong support for the reforms while acknowledging the need to adapt.
"Like many senators, I believe the bill will need to be further improved along the way before it becomes law," he said.
However, as each side began blaming the other, analysts were sceptical that the proposal could be amended to unite its seemingly implacable opponents.
Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, has said he will try to reintroduce the legislation. Affter the vote he criticised Republicans for failing to deliver promised votes.
"This is the president's bill," he said. "Where are the president's people helping us with these votes?"
The bill's passage through the Senate was earlier blocked late on Thursday night by an unlikely alliance of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans.
Critics of the legislation on the right have claimed its measures offer an "amnesty" to undocumented workers who had broken the law.
The proposal has deeply divided the Republican party. Leading supporters of the reforms - such as Mr Bush and John McCain, the senator and presidential candidate - have been exposed to unusually harsh criticism from within the party ranks.
Dissenting Senate Democrats were far fewer in number.
Some senators said the measures made it too hard for divided families to get US green cards. Others were worried a new temporary worker programme would put American jobs at risk.