Thread: Immigration Bill Teeters On The Brink

Immigration Bill Teeters On The Brink

Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday announced that he would move to invoke cloture, or end debate, on the immigration reform legislation before the Senate. McClatchy reports Republicans, led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, "angrily responded by accusing the Nevada Democrat of stifling consideration on the nation's top domestic priority and unfairly bottling up GOP amendments." The AP says Reid's move "ran into swift and forceful opposition from Republicans who said Democrats were squelching debate."

Media reports this morning suggest the move to invoke cloture seriously endangers the measures' chances of becoming law. The Wall Street Journal reports, "If the legislation fails to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate, it would deal a blow to the bill." The New York Times says Reid's tactic left "the fate of the legislation in question." The Washington Times says the "immigration deal foundered yesterday, on the verge of collapse under its own weight just days after it appeared to have a clear path to pass the Senate." Roll Call reports, "If Republicans refuse to support Democrats' efforts to move toward final passage this week, Reid said he'd be forced to pull the bill from the floor and move onto other pressing legislation such as energy reform and appropriations bills." In a blog entry for The Politico titled "Immigration Headed For Shelf?", Carrie Budoff writes that move could "possibly" stall "the bill for weeks."

The Los Angeles Times says "a few" Republicans who support the legislation "said Reid might be trying to scuttle the bill by forcing votes before Republicans were ready, but more suggested it was a parliamentary tactic to keep debate on track." The Hill reports Sen. Jon Kyl said of Reid's move, "Frankly, it's an extraordinary act of bad faith."

Pro-Immigrant Groups Funding Noted The Washington Times reports, "Wealthy philanthropic foundations are helping bankroll the pro-immigration movement, while groups advocating for tighter control of US borders say they take a more grass-roots approach to raising money. The Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation and Democratic activist George Soros are among the liberal funders that have donated millions of dollars to pro-immigration groups."

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/b ... 070606.htm

Reid said he'd be forced to pull the bill from the floor and move onto other pressing legislation such as energy reform and appropriations bills."

C-SPAN also commented this morning, that the bill could be pulled from the floor, likely ending any chance for the bill to pass this year.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Daily Digest of the US Senate

[Page: D765] GPO's PDF

Chamber Action

A motion was entered to close further debate on Reid (for Kennedy/Specter) Amendment No. 1150 (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Thursday, June 7, 2007.

Page S7063

A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Thursday, June 7, 2007.

Page S7063

http://thomas.loc.gov/r110/r110d05jn7.html

Some of this could be political manuvering. We are just going to have to stay on the phones and keep pushing.

Dixie

Yes!!!

Let's continue to stay on the phones and emails to shut these traitors down!

Take a Stand Folks, CALL UNTIL YOUR FINGERS HURT AND THEN CALL SOME MORE!