Thread: CSpan2 - Senate Convenes (9/20/07) 6:30am Pacific

Quorum Call...

Vitter speaking... (7:16am PT)

****
Rises to strongly oppose the Durbin Amend to DoD Apporpriations bill
It should be called the "Amnesty Act" - it is a de facto amnesty for illegal aliens. ****

He believes this is a bad and destructive policy. Makes problem worse, not better.

DREAM ACT provides a pathway to citizenship for who knows how many folks(?)

It gives them benefits that most US citizens don't enjoy. For ex. In-state tuition.

This is very frustrating to me. A few months ago, we discussed CIR - and it got a lot of attention, and that was good -because the American people got engaged. The American people wrote and called in record numbers

An Amnesty will make the problem worse, not better.

Let's deal with border security, workplace enforcement.

That message came through with such volume that it literally shut down the phone system.

What bothers me, is that message seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Again, it is clear, that this is another version of amnesty.

We don't know how many people that will cover, and how to enforce this adequately. (discusses age limit threshold - no real proof required)

So this is open-ended and unenforceable. It is an amnesty

It provides substantial benefits to those illegally in our country - the biggest is in-state college tuition. As soon as they sign up they are treated as state residents. All US citizen college attendees would LOVE to have this benefit.

This doesn't jive with the msg the American people sent a coupel months ago on this issue. That msg came through LOUD and CLEAR - no amnesty!

They were saying that not because they are mean-spirited, but because they know this will make the problem worse.

It will be a magnet for making problem worse.

Back in 1986 we approached problem in a very similar way - a 1-time fixed, the problem will be solved, ... etc but enforcement never happened, but amnesty given. Numbers of illegals increased, now problem is much
worse. That one-time 'solution' quadrupled the problem.

Let's listen to the common sense and wisdom of the American people.
Let's say no to amnesty, and let's say yes to border security and workplace enforcement.

I'll be offering a second degree amendment - it simply says nothing in the Durbin amend can take effect until the US Visit program is implemented.

Something very basic and necessary for enforcement.

The political will to just get it done wasn't there.

I'll be proposing that as soon as Durbin Amend is proposed.

Finished speaking.

[quorum call] 7:26am PT

Great speech by Vitter!

Sen Nelson (FL) speaking as in morn. business... (7:30am PT)

Speaking about Iraq and approp. process

Please try to keep us posted,as I and others don't have C-Span 2. Thanks.

ChromeDome - Ubetcha! (that's the idea - and to be able to react nearly instantly to any surprise nonsense emanating from the Senate.... )

Originally Posted by ChromeDome

Please try to keep us posted,as I and others don't have C-Span 2. Thanks.

Go To: (watch it online)

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan2_w ... V&Code=CS2

Nelson finishes speaking 7:38am PT.

Quorum call.

Thank you so much Phred for keeping us informed!

Your play by play is outstanding.

Thank you sir! Ten-hut!

The idea is to keep everyone [here] informed and able to respond on a moment's notice should that be needed.

Thanks for the Kudos - much appreciated.

Transcriber break beginning 7:45am PT, ETA is about 8-10 minutes.

If anything big develops, can someone else just post a few summary points in the interim...? (thanks)