"Democrats Pushing Forward with Immigration Reform"

[Clio the Leo]

Democrats Pushing Forward with Immigration Reform
April 29, 2010 by senatus

Senate Democrats appear “dead set on moving comprehensive immigration reform this year even if it comes without GOP support, and they began laying the groundwork Wednesday for a Democrats-only alternative to a bipartisan deal,” Roll Call reports.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (N.J.) released a detailed summary of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The outline — which is based on negotiations between Schumer and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that collapsed earlier this month — would require a series of border security benchmarks to be met before broader reforms could be implemented.

The legislation includes tougher controls on the hiring of illegal immigrants, new work visa provisions and a pathway for citizenship.

Publicly, Democrats insisted Reid, Schumer and Menendez still are hoping to bring Republicans to the negotiating table this summer.

One Democratic aide close to the issue “noted that in the wake of Graham’s abandoning negotiations, Schumer is continuing to meet with a handful of Senate Republican lawmakers — Scott Brown (Mass.), George LeMieux (Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Judd Gregg (N.H.) and Dick Lugar (Ind.) — and that the summary is part of a dual-track alternative for moving forward.”

http://senatus.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/democrats-pushing-forward-with-immigration-reform/

You may also see the following headline today...

http://thepage.time.com/2010/04/28/obama-may-be-no-appetite-for-immigration-this-year/">Obama: May Be "No Appetite" For Immigration This Year

... it's important to read between the lines here. He's not saying *HE* doesn't want to pursue it .... he's saying the GOP won't allow reform to happen. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) "So if you want me to sign a bill, might be a good idea to throw out the obstructionists." (in other words)

[babylonsister]

1. I know Dems can walk and chew gum, but is there something

wrong with owning one message and sticking to it? This to me just confuses the issue. Or why not put something out there that Dems will concentrate on both?


Reid: Despite activist uproar, climate comes before immigration
By Russell Berman and Alexander Bolton - 04/28/10 08:42 PM ET

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ended a week of indecision Wednesday about the Senate agenda by stating that climate change legislation will come to the floor before immigration reform.

“I am going to move forward on energy first,” Reid said at a press conference Wednesday.

Reid, who for a week has said both issues are vitally important to the country, said he remains committed to passing immigration reform this year and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has drafted an outline that could serve as the basis for legislation to be debated on the Senate floor.

The definitive statement by the Democratic leader is unlikely to quell the uproar caused by reports that immigration had leapfrogged climate change, however, especially after Reid failed to immediately shoot down suggestions that immigration was first in line.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/95031-reid-climate-comes-before-immigration

[Clio the Leo]

2. I think this is more of the case that the press making an issue of it...

"which one comes next!?" "which one is more important!?"

There was quite an exchange between Gibbs and the press corps the other day at one of the briefings. They kept insisting he tell them which was more important and which was next and he refused.

And of course you're talking about two different stages of the legislative process. What Schumer et al are talking about is CRAFTING legislation. When Reid comes into the picture, he's talking about getting it PASSED.