Senate Democrats Resist Bipartisan Immigration Accord

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a leader in forging a bipartisan compromise to overhaul U.S. immigration law, may have a tougher time selling the plan to fellow Democrats than to Republicans.

His first stop could be the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said in a statement he had ``serious concerns.'' In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid questioned whether ``we're going to be able to pass it.'' Some Republicans were dissatisfied as well, calling the plan thinly disguised amnesty for illegal immigrants.

---
The compromise, in accommodating Republicans who insist on tougher enforcement and provisions favored by U.S. businesses, may risk losing the support of Democrats sensitive to the concerns of Hispanic immigrants and organized labor. Democrats expressed doubts over provisions to create a temporary-worker program and to reduce the emphasis on uniting families when deciding which legal immigrants are admitted to the U.S.

Attendance at Kennedy's news conference yesterday to announce the deal underscored the political difficulty he faces. Only two Democrats, Ken Salazar of Colorado and Dianne Feinstein of California, were at his side. By contrast, seven Republican senators and two Bush administration Cabinet secretaries were at the podium.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aXDEEV_YF5ZI&refer=home

[ixion]

1. if the Bush Admin likes it, you know it must be bad.

just sayin'...

[The Stranger]

2. This was another strategic mistake by the Democrats.

Immigration splits the Republican Party down the middle. Bush and the Republicans wanted it out of the way before election season next year. The Democrats missed again.

[loyalkydem]

3. I'm

disappointed in my fellow Democrats. Anything that makes the President look good may come back to haunt them election time. Have they learned nothing from history?

[aquart]

4. Sucky, sucky bill.

[acmavm]

5. Horrible bill, both sides needs to say NO!

[Critters2]

6. Call your congresscritters!! All of mine heard from me this morning. nt

[bluestateguy]

7. Good

We need to enforce the laws on the books. I don't want America to be turned into a police state to roundup all the illegals--that's not realistic, nor is it good policy. But we do need to enforce our laws and we cannot not tolerate employers who exploit illegal immigrants like this. This bill just institutionalizes a large class of permanent low-skill, low wage, invisible workers who would be unlikely to unionize. That would drive down wages and benefits for all Americans.

[Critters2]

8. Right on all counts!!

:thumbsup:

[acmavm]

9. Well, there went my lunch half-hour. And I never got through to

anyone. What is the deal?

[NorthernSpy]

10. I'm so angry I could chew nails

If this amnesty passes, then the party will have lost my vote.


Always claiming to be the party of working class Americans, and then inviting 12 million foreigners to help beat our wages down even further...


Unforgivable.

[acmavm]

11. Lately they've almost been making it a point to show that there

is not difference in either side of the aisle. Between this bullshit and the secret trade bill, I an about ready to tell them to kiss off, we already have one elitist party running things. (Has anyone ever told the American people what this secret trade bill says?)

[badgervan]

12. Terrible Bill

I just called both Wisconsin Senators ( dems Feingold and Kohl ), as well as my dem Congressman ( Kagen ), and was told they were getting a heavy volume of calls on this bill - almost all against it because it rewards breaking the law. All three representatives I talked to said it was mostly dems calling in.

[kurth]

13. Kill this bill

It's a travesty and a sham.