06/26/2007
I’m looking for news of it now. Updates will be coming in — watch this space.[UPDATE] It’s actually 64-35. Please note that it’s not Amnesty that’s passed, but a procedural vote to allow the bill to be revived.UPDATE:Watch C-Span here, live, with Lou Dobbs.
This is the vote in favor of going forward with the bill — the people who changed their vote include a bunch of Republicans — and Jim Webb, who ran against Amnesty when he was running for the Senate.
Heres the roll of shame. The cloture vote on June 7th went 45-50; Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, actually switched from yes on that vote to no today. Which means the amnesty wing picked up a cool 20 yeses in the interim: Bennett, Bingaman, Bond, Boxer, Brownback, Burr, Coleman, Collins, Domenici, Ensign, Gregg, Kyl, Lott, McConnell, Murkowski, Pryor, Snowe, Stevens, Warner, Webb.The [italics]indicates Republicans, my friends. Sixteen of them 15 no/yes switches plus Brownback, who didnt vote on June 7th.
[Hot Air Blog]
In the meantime, the Whitehouse Press Secretary has issued a statement saying the President "misspoke" on amnesty. Apparently President Bush’s endless quest to define amnesty had caused a slip when he said
"You know, I've heard all the rhetoric — you've heard it, too — about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you've got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that."
The Press Secretary says that
This has been construed as an assertion that comprehensive immigration reform legislation before the Senate offers amnesty to immigrants who came here illegally. That is the exact opposite of the president’s long-held and often-stated position.
Of course it’s the exact opposite of the "president’s long-held and often-stated position." It also happens to be true. The short definition of amnesty is letting the criminals get away with it. That’s what will happen here if this monstrosity makes it all the way through the Senate and House.
TheHill.com — Immigration bill survives key vote 64-35By Klaus Marre June 26, 2007 The comprehensive immigration reform bill survived a crucial procedural vote Tuesday and took a large step toward Senate passage.
The push for the bipartisan legislation, which is backed by President Bush, appeared to be stalled earlier this month. But a compromise was reached after the bill was pulled following a failed cloture vote on June 7 and breathed new life into the effort.
Senate conducts pivotal immigration vote Staff and agencies 6 June, 2007By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer 2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — The Senate conducted a pivotal vote Tuesday on whether to jump-start a stalled bill for giving legal status to millions of immigrants now in the U.S. unlawfully.
"We”ll be moving our attention to the House after the Senate passes this comprehensive piece of legislation," he told business leaders and representatives of religious, Hispanic and agricultural communities.
Conservative critics who paint the measure as amnesty for lawbreakers said their efforts to stop the legislation were gaining momentum.
The legislation faces still more trials, even if it scales its initial obstacle. Votes still loom on amendments that could alter key parts of it. Another make-or-break test vote could come as early as Thursday.
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