Immigration plan, buffeted by squabbles, survives initial test
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Nicholas Johnston and James Rowley
The most comprehensive overhaul of immigration law in two decades was revived in the U.S. Senate and now faces votes on amendments that could shatter the fragile bipartisan coalition backing the legislation.
Supporters of the measure, President George W. Bush's top domestic priority, overcame a procedural hurdle this week and cleared the way for debate on about two dozen amendments in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
``There is a lot to be lost here,'' South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, a sponsor of the bill, said. Some of the ``amendments that are left to be dealt with basically take the bill backwards.''
The legislation would create a path to citizenship for 12 million illegal immigrants, tighten the U.S. border with Mexico and authorize a guest-worker program to help employers fill low- paying jobs.
Some amendments, pushed by both Republicans and Democrats, would dilute core provisions of the bill. They include proposals to ease identification requirements for prospective workers and to make it more onerous for immigrants seeking legal status.
Even if the Senate passes the bill, Bush's fellow Republicans in the House could derail it. They voted 114-23 last night to adopt a resolution opposing the Senate measure. ``You have to secure the border first,'' House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri told reporters.
The proposed Senate amendments posed a dilemma for such interest groups as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which would normally favor pro-business changes but don't want to undermine bipartisan support for the overall bill.
A Chamber-led coalition decided not to back an amendment by Iowa Republican Charles Grassley and Democrats Max Baucus of Montana and Barack Obama of Illinois to eliminate a requirement that employers verify the legal status of each worker. The business group is urging defeat of the amendment even though it likes the idea, said Randel Johnson, a Chamber lobbyist.
``Key Republicans have said it's a deal-killer,'' Johnson said.
The package of amendments was agreed upon to salvage the measure after it fell 15 votes short on June 7 of the 60 needed to clear the way for final passage. Yesterday, the Senate voted 64-35 to permit debate to resume, with 39 Democrats, 24 Republicans and Connecticut independent Joseph Lieberman lining up in support.
Bush sweetened the pot by endorsing a plan to add $4.4 billion to improve border security.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, a frequent visitor to the Capitol to lobby for the legislation, urged defeat of the Grassley-Baucus-Obama amendment.
``It strikes at one of the core elements of the bargain, which is tough enforcement with respect to employers,'' Chertoff said. ``It doesn't pass the common-sense test.''
Supporters of the amendment question whether it would be possible for the U.S. government to verify the identity of 160 million workers and root out those lacking proper documentation.
Two Republican amendments also could endanger the bill. One, offered by Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, would require all adult immigrants in the U.S. illegally to return to their home countries before gaining legal status.
The second, proposed by John Ensign of Nevada, would bar immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits for work done while they were in the U.S. illegally. Opponents say it could force the government to review the work history of millions of naturalized citizens.
Another amendment would weaken a proposed point system that gives preferences to foreigners with special job skills at the expense of family reunification. The proposal by New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez would bestow additional points on relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Arizona Republican Jon Kyl said Menendez's amendment is ``pernicious.''
``The next few days will be decisive,'' said Clarissa Martinez, campaign manager for the Washington-based Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, a supporter of the measure.
The bill's critics said yesterday's vote shouldn't be misconstrued as a sign the required three-fifths of the Senate will again vote to clear away a final hurdle by week's end. Sixty senators must vote to shut off debate to permit a vote on final passage.
North Carolina Republican Richard Burr, who voted to permit debate to resume, said some senators who voted to proceed may help block the measure later on. ``I don't think the way to kill this bill is not to consider it,'' Burr said.
Republicans used one of the procedural tools at their disposal to slow action on the measure. They insisted that Senate clerks read the 373-page text of all the amendments, though the tactic was abandoned soon after it began.
``The American people do not like this bill,'' said Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican. ``Our phones are ringing off the hook.''
Bloomberg
The most comprehensive overhaul of immigration law in two decades was revived in the U.S. Senate and now faces votes on amendments that could shatter the fragile bipartisan coalition backing the legislation.
Supporters of the measure, President George W. Bush's top domestic priority, overcame a procedural hurdle this week and cleared the way for debate on about two dozen amendments in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
``There is a lot to be lost here,'' South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, a sponsor of the bill, said. Some of the ``amendments that are left to be dealt with basically take the bill backwards.''
The legislation would create a path to citizenship for 12 million illegal immigrants, tighten the U.S. border with Mexico and authorize a guest-worker program to help employers fill low- paying jobs.
Some amendments, pushed by both Republicans and Democrats, would dilute core provisions of the bill. They include proposals to ease identification requirements for prospective workers and to make it more onerous for immigrants seeking legal status.
Even if the Senate passes the bill, Bush's fellow Republicans in the House could derail it. They voted 114-23 last night to adopt a resolution opposing the Senate measure. ``You have to secure the border first,'' House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri told reporters.
The proposed Senate amendments posed a dilemma for such interest groups as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which would normally favor pro-business changes but don't want to undermine bipartisan support for the overall bill.
A Chamber-led coalition decided not to back an amendment by Iowa Republican Charles Grassley and Democrats Max Baucus of Montana and Barack Obama of Illinois to eliminate a requirement that employers verify the legal status of each worker. The business group is urging defeat of the amendment even though it likes the idea, said Randel Johnson, a Chamber lobbyist.
``Key Republicans have said it's a deal-killer,'' Johnson said.
The package of amendments was agreed upon to salvage the measure after it fell 15 votes short on June 7 of the 60 needed to clear the way for final passage. Yesterday, the Senate voted 64-35 to permit debate to resume, with 39 Democrats, 24 Republicans and Connecticut independent Joseph Lieberman lining up in support.
Bush sweetened the pot by endorsing a plan to add $4.4 billion to improve border security.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, a frequent visitor to the Capitol to lobby for the legislation, urged defeat of the Grassley-Baucus-Obama amendment.
``It strikes at one of the core elements of the bargain, which is tough enforcement with respect to employers,'' Chertoff said. ``It doesn't pass the common-sense test.''
Supporters of the amendment question whether it would be possible for the U.S. government to verify the identity of 160 million workers and root out those lacking proper documentation.
Two Republican amendments also could endanger the bill. One, offered by Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, would require all adult immigrants in the U.S. illegally to return to their home countries before gaining legal status.
The second, proposed by John Ensign of Nevada, would bar immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits for work done while they were in the U.S. illegally. Opponents say it could force the government to review the work history of millions of naturalized citizens.
Another amendment would weaken a proposed point system that gives preferences to foreigners with special job skills at the expense of family reunification. The proposal by New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez would bestow additional points on relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Arizona Republican Jon Kyl said Menendez's amendment is ``pernicious.''
``The next few days will be decisive,'' said Clarissa Martinez, campaign manager for the Washington-based Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, a supporter of the measure.
The bill's critics said yesterday's vote shouldn't be misconstrued as a sign the required three-fifths of the Senate will again vote to clear away a final hurdle by week's end. Sixty senators must vote to shut off debate to permit a vote on final passage.
North Carolina Republican Richard Burr, who voted to permit debate to resume, said some senators who voted to proceed may help block the measure later on. ``I don't think the way to kill this bill is not to consider it,'' Burr said.
Republicans used one of the procedural tools at their disposal to slow action on the measure. They insisted that Senate clerks read the 373-page text of all the amendments, though the tactic was abandoned soon after it began.
``The American people do not like this bill,'' said Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican. ``Our phones are ringing off the hook.''
Bloomberg