Thread: US Senate Convenes (9:33am ET) - Getting Starting

Clerk calls roll (pause)...


Sessions has floor...

Going to speak about Bingaman amendment -

He supports it. It is instructive because he doesn't know where 400k number was created..?

TW program has great potential - but doesn't know details of implementation.

Program is designed to allow truly 'temporary' workers in. It makes some sense to him.

There is a shortage of certain types of labor - TWs can help fill void.

TW program outlined in bill - the 400k number would be for 2yrs.

Yr1: workers would stay 2 yrs - definition of numbers coming in are misleading because actual number of being here would DOUBLE!

yr1: 400k
yr2:+ 400k = 800k etc,

"Masters of the Universe" - who crafted the bill,
Originally thought TW program was a good idea.

Crafters told him 200k needed. But now, it's 400k, then 800k in 2yrs. - indicates to him (his staff) that it would be 900,000 in 2nd year.

Prof. Borjas (Harvard) - a Cuban refugee - says that low-income workers income reduce 8% due to immigration.

More and more immigration has negative effect on hard working Americans. Where did this number come from?

(Accelerator kicks-in in later years too)

I think this deal is set up badly - he presumes that senate would not approve 400k annually, so that they can approve a lower-level - suggests that colleagues should approve Bingaman amend.

We ought to consider any increases carefully anyway - current illegals are not made to leave. (Adding more people, none are required to leave...)

This is a big number : 2X+ current rate of legal immigration.

Is fixing system doubling legal immigration? Will still have illegal immigration anyway to add to numbers...

Not aware of any study that says we need large # of GWs.

Prof Chiswick of Univ IL - cautioned that large flow of low-skilled workers tend to erode US low-wage workers pay. etc,

Yields the floor..


Clerk calls roll (pause).

Sen Martinez (R-FL) has floor.

Rises in opposition to Bingaman Amendment -

Number is not pulled out of thin air - based on needs of our economy.

Roughly = to number that cross as IAs

[Note - he needs to be informed that for every IA that has a job, there is one US citizen that does not!!!]

Cites Pew Hispance Ctr study, to support number.

It is about supply/demand. A workforce available.

Other problem exists - that is the border.

We'll do all we can to enforce the border.
BP agents, sensors, fencing, etc.

However, we also need to disincentivize it - that is one of the reasons for 400k number.

So asks colleauges to stick with 400k number

Yields floor...


Clerk calls roll.. (pause)...

Sessions has floor...

Comments about earlier estimates of people that would come...

400k for 2yrs; in 2nd year there is an escalator clause, that would be 480k.

at end of 2nd year, 880k, and 20% of those are entitled to bring families.
that increases to that number; after 2yrs - result 1+ million in country by program.

His staff working on estimates.. Also concluded that previous Kennedy bill would allow 70+ mil into US. Heritage Found study confirmed results.
Now adjusted to 53 mil that would enter legally.

We ought to be very cautious.

Bing amend. - does not reduce AgJobs numbers.
It clearly is correct to adopt Bing amendment.

Yields floor..

Clerk calls roll (pause)...

[Still in pause -
Vote on Bingaman is scheduled to happen at 2:25pm ET; 11:25am PT]

[Don't waste too much time over in this thread today folks - you can always come back and check it out at the end of the day too remember...
Getting the calls and faxes out are the most important thing!]

Bingaman has floor..

Amend. will reduce number of people that can come in under GW program.
to 200k / yr max

This is untested program and we should proceed carefully.

Urges colleagues to support it.

Yields...



Sen Fatboy speaks...

Thanks the Sen from NM.

It was difficult to determine final numbas. Council of Econ Advisors - input,

Program starts with initial ball-park figure; later revision adjustment very likely.

Yields...


Sen Bingaman...

Hopes senators will support - had 79 support last year.

Allows for GW program...

Asks for Yeas/Neas


Sen Specter...

The 400k figure was derived from careful analysis, hearing in Jud Comm. -
advisors testified about immigrant help, hotels, restaurants, farms, etc.
If Bingaman is adopted, the adjustment factor - might be affected, etc.


Proceeding to vote...

Clerk calls roll (pause)...

Results upcoming momentarily:

Yeas: 74
Neas: 24

(Thankful for small victories...)

(Partial results)

Biden Y
Cochran Y
Voinivich Y
Durbin Y
Obama Y
Enzi Y (Thanks!)
Stabenow Y
Harkin Y
Tester Y
Gregg N (Grrr!)
Feingold Y
Martinez N (Grrr!)
Reed Y
Wyden Y
Reid Y
Coburn Y (Thanks!)
Inoye Y
Roberts Y
Whitehouse Y
Hatch N (Grrr!)
Murray Y
Lugar N (Grrr!)
Salazar N (oooh!; He's a Dem -he'll hear about it!)
Lieberman N (Grrr!)
Snowe Y
Casey Y
Dole Y
Thomas Y
Allard Y
Webb Y
Kloubachar Y
Nelson Y (FL)
Sanders Y
Lott N (Grrr!)
DeMint N
Carper Y
McCaskill Y
Vitter Y
Schumer Y
Grassley Y
Leahy Y
Stevens N
Kohl Y (Cole?)
Brown Y
Murkowski Y
Ensign Y
McConnell Y
Collins Y
Stevens Y
Lincoln Y
Akaka Y
Thune Y
Menendez Y
Feinstein Y
Smith N (GRRRRRRR!!!!)
Shelby Y
Brownback N (Grrr!)
Dodd Y
Pryor Y
Conrad Y
Lautenberg Y
Landrieu Y
Levin Y
Kerry Y
Byrd Y
Bennett N
Warner N (Grrr!)
Domenici N (changed from Y)
Clinton Y

[Transcriber needs break]

Graham of SC introduces new Amendment...

Speaking...

[Sorry folks, not going to report on all this - need a break]

are you all hearing Lindsey...bawahahahaha...he sounds nervous...changing his tune...or getting a bill that will use biometric on us????

Originally Posted by redbadger

are you all hearing Lindsey...bawahahahaha...he sounds nervous...changing his tune...or getting a bill that will use biometric on us????

So how can Graham use the Illegals are law breakers argument only when he wants to. Oh blah blah blah we care about the laws on our books, but only if you violate them in the future. THAT ALL SHOULD APPLY FOR THE CURRENT LAWBREAKERS, NOT JUST FUTURE ONES!!!

This is downright aggravating to hear him talk out of both sides of his mouth.

Lindsey Graham has the floor?......God help America.