Bush Desperate to Revive the Immigration Bill Favored by Democrats

John F. McManus
JBS
Saturday June 16, 2007

Support for the Senate immigration bill comes mostly from Democrats, not from President Bush's party where it is widely described as "amnesty." Yet, he remains strongly committed to it and has even come up with a novel idea to gain some additional backing.

Follow this link to the original source: "Senators Vow to Revive Immigration Bill"

The recent vote saw the Senate reject the Bush-Kennedy immigration bill by a whopping 15 votes. Only 45 senators wanted to end debate when 60 were needed. But a determined Mr. Bush has already journeyed to Capitol Hill seeking more support — with one result of the visit being an agreement to allow consideration of 22 amendments, half from Democrats and half from Republicans.

Another product of these new negotiations saw Mr. Bush promising reluctant senators that he would back spending $4.4 billion for increased border security. The money would come, said the President, "from the fines and penalties that we collect from those who have come to our country illegally" as they apply for legal status. Imagine the difficulty in collecting that amount of money from poor Mexicans who crossed the border for low-paying jobs. Talk about desperation!

Senator Jim DeMint, (R-S.C.) has been an opponent of the measure. About the $4.4 billion offered as bait for his vote, he commented, "There's no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it." In other words, he wants the border secured without granting the amnesty that he and many others see in the bill.

Asked about this highly unusual method of financing something that should be done and has already been promised, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, chimed in with, "The idea that we will have border security only if it's paid for by illegal immigrants is unacceptable."

Everyone in Washington knows that a sizeable majority of the American people oppose anything smelling of amnesty, and the current proposal continues to elicit precisely that odor. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), a supporter of the bill, ominously concluded, "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem." If you wonder what he has in mind, you're not alone. Political analyst Matthew Towery, a Georgia-based pollster, thinks the President's support for amnesty is hurting Republican senators, especially those who will face voters in 2008.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a strong supporter, agreed to place the measure before the Senate during the next two weeks. But changing the minds of 15 or more senators is going to be a large hurdle to overcome. Then, even if the intense arm-twisting results in Senate approval of the measure, it faces an even larger hurdle in the House.

Opponents of the measure should continue to voice their disdain for it with both senators and representatives, even if President Bush and his allies refuse to admit that it's amnesty for 20 million lawbreakers.

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