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

No comments.

Popular posts from this blog

March 21-24, 2016

Image
Mar 21 01:28 SCSU's budget cuts? Mar 21 02:29 When will the Range change? Mar 21 08:54 DFL's Marty in charge of environment Mar 21 11:45 OLA report, DFL & Meyer Associates Mar 23 12:48 Liberals' definition of moderate Mar 23 14:37 DFL activists: Government is racist Mar 24 08:59 IRRRB: Revamping vs. scrapping Prior Months: Jan Feb Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 SCSU's budget cuts? Cuts in Athletics at SCSU - Will it Really Save Money? by Silence Dogood With a $6,000,000 "structural deficit" and the need to "rebuild reserves by at least $3 million," SCSU has a $9,000,000 hole in its' FY17 budget. It doesn't take a Noble Prize in economics to figure out that reductions in expenditures (i.e., cuts) are going to be made at SCSU. On the Wednesday before Spring Break, SCSU President Dr. Earl H. Potter sent an email to the campus community announcing cuts to the athlet
Read more

October 31, 2007

Oct 31 01:01 Media Matter's Alter Ego? Oct 31 03:32 Iraqi Civilian Casualties Dropping Oct 31 10:52 Hillary's Panderfest Blows Up in Her Face Oct 31 13:15 Brod, Emmer Call For Investigation of Mark Ritchie Oct 31 19:43 Ritchie's 'Episode' a Tempest in a Teapot? Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Prior Years: 2006 Media Matter's Alter Ego? One Media Matters-like organization is already too many. It appears as though there's another liberal apologist blog out there. Their name is News Hounds . The post that caught my attention dealt with last weekend's interview of Justin and Darryl Sharraltt on Hannity's America. To say that their post didn't attempt to refute Justin's story is understatement. In fact, they jump right into criticizing Mr. Hannity: Last night's (October 27th) Hannity's America was a strange magazine format which combined stories about mediums and haunted houses
Read more

January 19-20, 2012

Image
Jan 19 02:57 Minnesota Majority report an indictment against Minnesota's election integrity Jan 19 03:41 Ron Paul's Logic Jan 19 08:08 Newt thrives despite Mitt's hatchet job efforts Jan 19 09:19 Potential Game-Changer: Perry dropping out this am Jan 20 05:12 Newt takes Sen. Santorum to proverbial woodshed Jan 20 00:56 ABC, CNN, crawl into bed with National Enquirer Jan 20 04:00 Child Care small businesses file federal lawsuit Jan 20 04:41 Mitt's biggest policy blunder Jan 20 18:58 Gingrich, Reagan re-united Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Newt takes Sen. Santorum to proverbial woodshed Rick Santorum was really feeling it Thursday night. Then he said something that's certain to cause him pain this morning. Here's what he said that got him in trouble: SANTORUM: But you also have to admit that this freshman congressman who wasn't supposed to win a race came and did something you never did, which is blew the li
Read more