Thread: US Senate CSpan2 Reports (near real-time) 1:00pm ET 5/21/07

US Senate Convenes (Chaplain reads) 1:00pm Eastern

Sen Sherrod Brown chairs meeting

Harry Reid speaking:

Introduces agenda - discussion of S1348.
Sen. Sessions to speak for 2 hrs.
Vote for Cloture at 2:30m

"We've all worked hard", etc.


(Talks about soldiers killed over the weekend).

Mentions private from NV killed.

...Back to issue of Immigratino Reform.

Employers don't know who can be legally hired.

No winners under current system - only losers,

Chance to strength border security.

Take pressure off border.

Chance for workers to come out of the shadows.

Enforcement alone cannot solve illegal immigration.

(Noting stats. about border interdictions, %'s)

Millions will risk their lives to jump border

"Our economy depends on them as well"

(Mentions... children, parents, etc. - of illegals)

Treated unfairly in the workplace.

Risk deportation from families

Should not allow to jump in front of line for GC.

We can continue to do [more enforcement], or allow them to come out of the shadows, (blah, blah)

Over the past several weeks, we have negotiated a bill in good faith,
...we have finally reached an agreement.

Negotiation has required enormous meetings and cooperation, etc.

Has personal reservations about bill:

> Potentially breaks up families.
> Requires workers to go back home.

"Must avoid a law that creates a permanent underclass"

People that do not have chance for citizenship, or improve their situation.


Finally - word about 'touch-back':

Understand the concept is important, but will cause needless hardship for immigrants/families.

Bill is a starting point - urges colleauges to vote for cloture to begin debate

Summary (end)

(Clerk reads bill introduction)

Sen. Session recognized to speak for 3 hours(!)

Sessions Begins:

Introduction

Go Sessions!!!! Go Sessions!!!!

Dixie

There is NO WAY this bill can be voted on and approved this week.

(Requires complete reading and investigation of details).

No Way - we should approve this bill after just one week.

"A railroad job for sure"


"I'm not pleased', and opposed, a motion to proceed to last year's bill".

Pointed out 17 loopholes in Last Year's bill.

Senators not pleased, concerned with reports from last year. "I was pleased to hear that".

(Points out difference between actual details vs. assumed or summarized details presented publicly.)

Talks about sytem of Canada, Australia - merit-based system.

Takes offense to criticism of such approach.

Current system allows newcomers to bring extended family.

New system says no right will exist for extended family entry - now, only through application process.

Nuclear family ok, not extended family though.

(Show Pie Chart) of proportions by origin

US:
58% family based
16% etc. etc,


Canada : 60% entrants are on merit-basis.

Australia: 62% "

I reject that this is an attack on the family to base system on merit.

To Reid: this bill is a 'good starting' - makes Sessions nervous.
This bill could be moved through this week.

What might happens in Congress? American people have a right to be cynical. Require a lawful system of immigration.

Congress hasn't taken needed steps to make system lawful, functional.
Bill should serve our national interest. Any passed bill, should serve national -not special interest.

"American people were not in the secret meetings in negotiations(!)"

PLEASE KEEP POSTING FOR THOSE OF US AT WORK.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Bill has 300-some pages.

"How can you take 326 pgs and put it in legislative language overnight"?

Actuall bill is 1000 pages - 3x the summary of bill.

"Are we going to pass that this week"?

People need to talk about issues in bill, and upcoming legislation.

Majority leader has filed for cloture on last year's bill.

(Outlines process)

Brought up bill that never should have been brought up anyway.

This entiryely 'new bill' - will be substituted, without chances for debate on new bill. Plan to 'ram' through the new bill.

We have a flawed process. Americans should be troubled.

I don't deny that people that worked on the bill, but,.... the solution doesn't satisfy problem.

Refers to the bill writers as "masters of the universe' (!)

Bill has some good parts, some troubling parts.

Bill is unwise. Senate is not ready.

Another "thank you," for posting Senator Sessions comments. We can use these points in our calls, emails, etc. I will be printing some of these comments out to use for factual commentary.

You may also listen to the streaming at:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_rm.a ... V&Code=CS2