House, Senate Moving Towards Each Other

At least that's what I think is happening based on some quotes from key GOP legislators in this AP article. Here are the specific quotes that make me think that:
"If there are some unneeded and unwanted complexities in this legislation, they could probably be smoothed out," said Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), one of the main architects of the bill. Appearing Thursday on CBS's "The Early Show," McCain said he did not consider any provisions immune from discussion in coming talks with the House. "I don't think it would be appropriate for us on the Senate side to draw a line in the sand and say this is nonnegotiable," he said. "That is not the way to go in." But McCain also said he feels voters would strike back at both parties if no immigration legislation is passed this year. "The consequences of failure should properly be very high," he said.
That sounds like he knows that the Senate will have to adopt some measures that the House is insisting on. Without that, this bill isn't going anywhere. Here's why:
Sen. John Cornyn, (R-TX), said he probably would vote against the bill, but that its "problems" can be settled in negotiations with the House. "Failure is really not an option," said Cornyn, who will be one of the negotiators. "I think we've got to come up with a bill that addresses the American people's concerns."
Sen. Cornyn's 100 percent right about that. Failure isn't an option at this point. Finally, here's the quote that makes me think that attitudes are shifting a bit in the House, too:
GOP Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, has insisted that Bush's view and the Senate proposal amount to amnesty. But he left the door open to make a deal. "I don't think anything is a deal-breaker," Sensenbrenner, who will lead House negotiators, said in a CBS appearance. "We can't have legal proceedings to deport 11 to 12 million people, that is evident."
Jim Sensenbrenner is exactly right about it being difficult, if not impossible, to "have legal proceedings to deport 11 to 12 million people." If he's saying that nothing "is a dealbreaker" at this point, then I'd think that this has a strong chance of coming out of conference with a wall, a strong, beefed-up border enforcement force, strong employer penalties for hiring illegal immigrants and a guest worker program.

If this comes together and the President is able to sign that legislation, a big issue will be put behind the GOP. Most importantly, if the bill is serious about enforcing our borders via the wall and a muscular Border Patrol, then I think conservatives will tolerate the legislation. They won't like what they call amnesty but I think they'd have to come around if border security is serious and catch-and-release is ended.


Posted Thursday, May 25, 2006 3:48 PM

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