Immigration reform bill clears key Senate hurdle

**JohnDoe2** · 05-22-2013, 12:30 AM

Mitch McConnell won’t block immigration bill

McConnell's statement should carry a fair amount of weight within the conference. | AP Photo

By TARINI PARTI | 5/21/13 3:33 PM EDT
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he wants the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill to proceed to the floor, despite requests from some conservatives to reject all procedural votes related to the bill.
“With regard to getting started on the bill — it’s my intention if there is a motion to proceed required, to vote for the motion to proceed so we can get on the bill and see if it we’re able to pass a bill that actually moves the ball in the right direction,” McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters.

McConnell’s signal that he won’t block an initial motion to proceed should carry a fair amount of weight within the conference.
(PHOTOS: Pols react to immigration deal)
He also commended the group working on comprehensive immigration reform for its efforts.
“I think the Gang of Eight has made a substantial contribution in moving the issue forward,” he said. “So far I’m told that the Judiciary Committee hasn’t in any fundamental way undone the agreements that were agreed by the eight senators. So I’m hopeful we can get a bill that we can pass here in the Senate.”
He also said that both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate want to address the need for immigration reform.
(PHOTOS: At a glance: The Senate immigration deal)
“With regard to immigration, I would say this – I expect this is the view of every one of my colleagues, it certainly is my view – I would say this: The status quo is not good,” he said. “The current situation is not good.”
A coalition of tea party organizations and conservative leaders wrote scathing letter Tuesday against the Senate Gang of Eight immigration bill, calling it so “defective” that senators need to scrap it altogether.
The letter, which had nearly 150 signers — including former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), RedState.com editor Erick Erickson and Jenny Beth Martin, the co-founder and national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots — also urges senators to not only reject the underlying legislation, but any procedural votes that would be required for the Senate to begin working on the bill on the floor.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...#ixzz2Tza9QSpS