harrisonsdream
05-24-2007, 10:42 AM
Senate votes to slash proposed guest-worker plan
The amendment undercuts key part of immigration bill
By DAVE MONTGOMERY
McClatchy-Tribune
WASHINGTON — The Senate, undercutting a central feature in the White House-backed immigration bill, voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to shrink the size of a proposed guest-worker program intended to give U.S. businesses a steady source of low-skilled labor.
By 74-24, senators approved an amendment by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., to cap the program at 200,000 foreign workers annually. The bill originally proposed bringing 400,000 foreign workers into the country each year.
Bingaman's amendment also eliminates an "escalator" provision that would enable the government to adjust the numbers of workers depending on the country's economic needs.
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, the Republican leader of a bipartisan coalition that produced the sweeping immigration measure, said the bill's sponsors could begrudgingly accept the numerical reduction, but he expressed fears that the entire bill "would unravel" unless the escalator provision is restored.
"I'd say the deal's broken then," Bingaman said when told of Kyl's comment. He said he'd fight attempts to restore the escalator provision.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of the bill's sponsors, won easy passage of an amendment that would impose mandatory jail sentences for those who crossed the border illegally after being deported — at least 60 days in jail for the first offense and no less than two years for the second offense.
"Everyone needs to know that America is changing its immigration laws," Graham said. "If you break our laws, you will lose your freedom."
Senators also approved an amendment by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to improve the treatment of more than 7,000 unaccompanied immigrant children who are taken into federal custody each year. The measure would help children reunite with families, expand shelter and foster care, and develop minimum standards for treatment.
The bill, which also would legalize millions of illegal immigrants, emerged from three months of negotiations involving the Bush administration and a group of about a dozen senators from both parties. Sponsors describe the bill as a "grand bargain" and say that any major change through amendments could destroy the compromise.
The measure has come under attack from a diverse array of interest groups, — including Hispanics, labor groups and conservative organizations.
My opinion: you come here illegally you get your ass deported
The amendment undercuts key part of immigration bill
By DAVE MONTGOMERY
McClatchy-Tribune
WASHINGTON — The Senate, undercutting a central feature in the White House-backed immigration bill, voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to shrink the size of a proposed guest-worker program intended to give U.S. businesses a steady source of low-skilled labor.
By 74-24, senators approved an amendment by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., to cap the program at 200,000 foreign workers annually. The bill originally proposed bringing 400,000 foreign workers into the country each year.
Bingaman's amendment also eliminates an "escalator" provision that would enable the government to adjust the numbers of workers depending on the country's economic needs.
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, the Republican leader of a bipartisan coalition that produced the sweeping immigration measure, said the bill's sponsors could begrudgingly accept the numerical reduction, but he expressed fears that the entire bill "would unravel" unless the escalator provision is restored.
"I'd say the deal's broken then," Bingaman said when told of Kyl's comment. He said he'd fight attempts to restore the escalator provision.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of the bill's sponsors, won easy passage of an amendment that would impose mandatory jail sentences for those who crossed the border illegally after being deported — at least 60 days in jail for the first offense and no less than two years for the second offense.
"Everyone needs to know that America is changing its immigration laws," Graham said. "If you break our laws, you will lose your freedom."
Senators also approved an amendment by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to improve the treatment of more than 7,000 unaccompanied immigrant children who are taken into federal custody each year. The measure would help children reunite with families, expand shelter and foster care, and develop minimum standards for treatment.
The bill, which also would legalize millions of illegal immigrants, emerged from three months of negotiations involving the Bush administration and a group of about a dozen senators from both parties. Sponsors describe the bill as a "grand bargain" and say that any major change through amendments could destroy the compromise.
The measure has come under attack from a diverse array of interest groups, — including Hispanics, labor groups and conservative organizations.
My opinion: you come here illegally you get your ass deported