Senate Revives Immigration Bill But Outlook Still Clouded

The Senate took a significant step today toward advancing a fragile immigration overhaul, agreeing to resume debate on legislation that had fizzled earlier this month.

By a vote of 64-35, senators voted to limit debate on a motion to proceed to the bill (S 1639). Republicans split 24-25; Democrats supported cloture by 39-9, while the two independents split.

The vote paved the way for debate on more than 20 amendments from members of both parties.

Even though more than the necessary 60 senators agreed to debate the bill, that by no means guarantees its passage. Many critics of the measure have said they want to see what happens with the amendments before deciding whether to vote for the final product.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will likely file a motion later Tuesday to end debate on the bill. That would set up a second cloture vote on Thursday that is expected to be the decisive vote on the measure. If that motion fails, the immigration overhaul could be lost for the 110th Congress.

The bill, sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, would allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to remain in the United States, obtain legal work visas and ultimately earn citizenship. The measure also would provide $4.4 billion in mandatory spending for border security and enforcement, and create a new temporary guest worker program.

Source: CQ Today Midday Update
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