The two videos at this link are of President Bush with his "See you at the Signing," statement and then of Senator Jeff Sessions outlining what is wrong with the SHAMANESTY bill.



GOP senator to Bush: 'Back off' on ailing immigration bill

• GOP Sen. Sessions: Don't "push a bill that so many of us can't support"

• Bush to visit Senate to sell his ailing immigration overhaul bill

• White House: If Democrats allow debate for GOP amendments, it will pass

• Bipartisan bill suffered crushing defeat last week; conservatives call it "amnesty"

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As President Bush prepares to make a rare visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to push his ailing immigration plan, one GOP senator is saying the president should "back off" and "help us write a better bill."

During his Senate lunch, Bush is hoping to gain 15 GOP supporters for his centerpiece immigration legislation which suffered a crushing blow in a floor vote last week.

Bush's influence with Congress appears to be waning, although he expressed confidence about the measure on Monday. "I'll see you at the bill signing," he said while traveling in Bulgaria. (Watch the signs that Bush is looking more like a "lame duck")

But Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a fellow Republican, made it clear Tuesday that he will not be swayed.

"Frankly, I think the president is wrong to push this piece of legislation so hard after we demonstrated the flaws that are in it," Sessions said. "He needs to back off."

Sessions said Bush should help Congress "write a better bill and not push a bill that so many of us can't support." (Watch Sessions explain what he thinks is wrong with the "fatally flawed" bill)

Before its defeat last week, both Republicans and Democrats had problems with the bill. Liberals said it would limit opportunities for unskilled workers, while conservatives said it would give "amnesty" to those who have broken the law.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Tuesday that he expected Democratic leaders to allow debate on a series of Republican amendments. "If that's the case, we're confident it's going to pass."

Snow said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week "wanted to cut off the debate, so a number of Republicans who had amendments they wanted to propose didn't get to have their hearing."

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered another sign that Bush has a tough sell ahead. (Watch why Bush's role is vital to immigration bill)

"I think most senators have pretty well made up their minds," McConnell told reporters. "So, we'll be interested in the president's advice, but I think this is not an issue upon which many people are undecided."

Democrats call for stronger leadership

Bush's visit to the Hill comes after Reid urged "stronger leadership" from the White House to "ensure the opponents of the bill do not block the path to final passage."

In last week's Senate vote that stopped the bill, just seven Republicans voted with 37 Democrats and one independent on the procedural motion that fell well shy of the necessary 60 votes for passage. (Read more about last week's crushing blow to immigration legislation)

McConnell said passage is possible. There are "a reasonable number of Republicans" who "are likely to help us get it through," he said.

But those Republicans don't want presidential arm twisting. They want a chance to modify the controversial bill, a chance Reid denied them when he moved to close debate before Republicans could offer a sufficient number of amendments, McConnell argued.

Republicans will demand they be given as least as many roll call votes as Democrats got when a similar bill was considered in the last Congress, which was controlled by Republicans, McConnell said.

If an agreement can be reached on amendments the Senate could return to the bill before the July 4 recess, Reid suggested.

"The bipartisan compromise, while it has its flaws, is better than the status quo, and I hope we can get back to it in the near future," McConnell said.

CNN's Ted Barrett and Steve Brusk contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/12/immigration/