Immigration Bill Dies In Senate

Supporters Fall 14 Votes Short Of Keeping Bill Alive; Major Setback For President Bush

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's immigration plan to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants while fortifying the border collapsed in the Senate on Thursday, crushing both parties' hopes of addressing the volatile issue before the 2008 elections.

The Senate vote that drove a stake through the delicate compromise was a stinging setback for Mr. Bush, who has made reshaping immigration laws a central element of his domestic agenda.

Republicans backing the bill tried to bring their colleagues on board by arguing that the president badly needed a domestic victory, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. But in the end, senators in his own party turned their back on the president.

The defeat could carry heavy political consequences for Republicans and Democrats, many of whom were eager to show they could act on a complex issue of great interest to the public.

"Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people, and Congress' failure to act on it is a disappointment," a grim-faced president said after an appearance in Newport, R.I. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find common ground. It didn't work."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., his party's lead negotiator, called the defeat "enormously disappointing for Congress and for the country." But, he added: "We will be back. This issue is not going away."

Still, lawmakers in both parties said further action was unlikely this year, dooming its prospects as the political strains of a crowded presidential contest get louder.

---

CBS News Poll: Immigration

---

"I believe that until another election occurs, or until something happens in the body politic, that what occurred today was fairly final," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., the GOP chairman.

"I don't see where the political will is there for this issue to be dealt with," said Martinez, who helped develop the bill.

House Democratic leaders signaled they had little appetite for taking up an issue that bitterly divides both parties and has tied up the Senate for weeks.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who heads the House Judiciary subcommittee that was to write a version of the bill, said the Senate's inability to move forward "effectively ends comprehensive immigration reform efforts" for the next year and a half.

"The Senate voted for the status quo," the California Democrat said in a statement.

The vote already had led to partisan finger-pointing.

Howard Dean, the Democratic Party chairman, said it was "a reminder of why the American people voted Republicans out in 2006 and why they'll vote against them in 2008."

The measure was the product of a liberal-to-conservative alliance led by Kennedy and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that forged an immigration compromise intended to withstand challenges from the left and right.

They advocated the resulting measure as an imperfect but necessary fix to the current system, in which millions of illegal immigrants use forged documents or lapsed visas to live and work in the U.S.

The proposal would have made those millions eligible for lawful status while tightening border security and creating an employee verification system to weed out illegal workers from U.S. jobs.

The bill also would have set up a temporary worker program and a system to base future legal immigration more heavily on employment criteria, rather than family ties.

Ultimately, though, what came to be known as their "grand bargain" commanded only lukewarm support among important constituencies in both parties. That was no match for the vehement and vocal opposition of Republican conservatives, who derided it as amnesty.

[realpatriot1]

If the opponents get their way,we will have at least another 2 years of people coming across the border unchecked and those already here will continue on and even have time to forge more documents before any better enforcement measures can be enacted.

But at least the xenophobes will have a campaign issue.

[selenite1]

IMPEACH!!!

[infidel_us]

The end of the bill, and with any luck, the end of Kennedy's 40+ reign of liberalism. The man has done NOTHING but play a major part in ruining the country.

[forthepeopl1]

AMERICANS TO CHANGE THIS ILLEIGAL ADMINASTRATION AS A VETERAN IT IS MY DUTY TO SAVE MY COUNTRY.

time to take up ARMS and take them all out.

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail],978-618-310
5

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now

[selenite1]

This is an illegal government.

Rebel! Impeach!

[realpatriot1]

infidel_US,

Give Kennedy some credit. He has brought drunk driving, adultery, public lewdness, and obesity into the public consciousness.

[abbe7]

"The end of the bill, and with any luck, the end of Kennedy's 40+ reign of liberalism. The man has done NOTHING but play a major part in ruining the country.
Posted by infidel_us at 08:39 AM : Jun 28, 2007"

Don't worry. If it passes, your president can still veto it or use a signing statement. Or not ?

[penskeone]

Let's pass this Bill!



No To Amnesty, Yes to A Comprehensive Reform Bill!

[mudrose-2009]

The end of the bill, and with any luck, the end of Kennedy's 40+ reign of liberalism. The man has done NOTHING but play a major part in ruining the country.
Posted by infidel_us

Give Kennedy some credit. He has brought drunk driving, adultery, public lewdness, and obesity into the public consciousness.
Posted by realpatriot1

Amen. I just can understand why they will not enforce the laws on the books - one being to close the border and use our border patrol and national guard to protect it. We have a run-away Congress who does not and will not adhere to the Will of the People. 14% ratings which means that their own mothers don't like them.

[skyhawk761]

infidel_us, why no mention of GW's support of this bill? This is nothing short of amnesty and I am totally against it, but Kennedy is not the only one pushing this. Oh, by the way, the last time we granted amnesty, it also was under a Republican President. Remember that? I see a pattern here!

[skyk-2009]

The end of the bill, and with any luck, the end of Kennedy's 40+ reign of liberalism. The man has done NOTHING but play a major part in ruining the country.
Posted by infidel_us at 08:39 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Check the record there Sparky. You Fascist had complete control of the Government of 6 years and look at the country now. I hardly think your "Blame the Liberal's" propaganda is working for you anymore. Add that to the FACT that your Fuhrer is the one behind this bill and you don't look real good. But Hey! Since when has that bothered a Slobber Slinging Nazi? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!!

[omnibus66]

I watched the "debate" on CSPAN for a while yesterday, and I was absolutely amazed when Kennedy got the floor. For approximately 15 minutes, he presented a dog and pony show with Diane Fienstein in which both of them put forth nothing but half-truths and outright lies. This is a national disgrace, orchestrated by the Democrats. What a country we have, with a sociopath in the White House, and now a Congress trying to give away what little is left of the country to criminals.

[skyhawk761]

mudrose, the Republicans had total control of Washington with the exception of the last six months to control the borders and did nothing. 9/11 happened while the Repubs had control and they had 5 years to come up with something, once again nothing. Try spreading the blame around. I agree that the Dems have done nothing so far to impress me, but 6 months compared to almost 6 years. Who deserves the real blame here?

[infidel_us]

"Rep. Pelosi reminds the left that she%u2019s on its side
By Jonathan E. Kaplan
June 28, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working hard to make sure that the fiery liberal wing of the Democratic Party remembers that she is one of them. She is also going out of her way to reassure opponents of the war that she is on their side."

14% and FALLING! :)

[panhandlpete]

This BAD bill does nothing but give away the most coveted opportunity that all poor people of the world want.....the legal right to be in the US.

Picture our country one year from now when all these "illegal aliens" have been made legal. You will not know your own neighborhood or town......ask folks who lived in Miami in 1962 (another Kennedy blunder).

If the elite rich folks had given this much attention to the "family farm" workers, and promotedd the idea of families owning and working family farms instead of farm corporations, we would not have the need of these 'folks who do jobs Americans won't do'.

[omega39-2009]

She is also going out of her way to reassure opponents of the war that she is on their side."
Posted by infidel_us

Do those war "opponents" include Mike Pence, George Voinovich and John Warner?

[forthepeopl1]

its funny to me to see americans sit and do nothing about this governemnt stealing hundreds of billions of american tax dollars and just flush it away to other country aroud this world.

we cant even help and this governemnt cpuld care less about our own americans starving,loseing there homes because this governemnt raised the prime rate so much that 100s of millions of home owners will lose there homes the beginning of this year.

the governemnt can give billions to all these big iol,credic card co, to bail them out and to bail out the banking world. but will not help and bail out americans..

you all sit and do nothing to get rid of this government and adminastration that is murdering of troops by the thousands for their profit.

thats why we need a AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO MARCH DOWN IN WASHINGTON AND SHOW THEM HOW THEY WORK FOR...US AMERICANS...OTHER COUNTRYS DO IT. WHAT IS EVERYONE AFFRAID OF THIS GOVERNEMNT.

[infidel_us]

Don't worry. If it passes, your president can still veto it or use a signing statement. Or not ?
Posted by abbe7 at 08:55 AM : Jun 28, 2007

I had NO IDEA GW was an open borders loser! He is FOR this, "it's not amnesty" bill!

If there was a movement to impeach him on the grounds that he is not protecting the country by not sealing the border, I would be all for it.

[reel-crazy]

I am watching my Senator, Claire McCaskill, closely to see that she stays good on her word of NO AMNESTY according to her site at http://www.claireonline.com/issues/immigration.jsp

I hope everyone else is watching their Senator, too. Promises are one thing, action is another.

NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS... PERIOD

I welcome legal immigrants to the USA and wish you prosperity.

[infidel_us]

But Hey! Since when has that bothered a Slobber Slinging Nazi? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!!
Posted by skyk at 09:12 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Silence, village idiot!

[jack3213]

I agree with Omnibus66, it is a disgrace orchestrated by Democrats as well as Republicans. I think this bill as much as chance as passing as Clinton as becoming the next president, pretty slight.

[abbe7]

"If there was a movement to impeach him on the grounds that he is not protecting the country by not sealing the border, I would be all for it.
Posted by infidel_us at 09:24 AM : Jun 28, 2007"

What about on the grounds that
- he was not protecting the country by giving (or wanting to give) some seaports management to Dubai ?
- he was not protecting the country by letting his Saoudi friends escape after 9/11 ?
- he was not protecting the country by letting
his administration outing a CIA WMD non-proliferation cover (Brewster-Jennings) get away with it and leaving his security clearance to Karl Rove ?

Do I need to keep going ?

[jack3213]

I agree with Omnibus66, it is a disgrace orchestrated by Democrats as well as Republicans. I think this bill has much as chance as passing as Clinton has becoming the next president, pretty slight.

[omega39-2009]

I watched the "debate" on CSPAN for a while yesterday, and I was absolutely amazed when Kennedy got the floor. For approximately 15 minutes, he presented a dog and pony show with Diane Fienstein in which both of them put forth nothing but half-truths and outright lies.
Posted by omnibus66

I have voted for Feinstein in the past, I will be voting against her in the future.

[infidel_us]

Dems have done nothing so far to impress me, but 6 months compared to almost 6 years. Who deserves the real blame here?
Posted by skyhawk761 at 09:13 AM : Jun 28, 2007

6 years? They've had it since '94 and what did they do? Feather their own nests. Squander their opportunity to lead. Get caught up in scandals. A VERY, VERY disappointing bunch.

But democrats controlled things for 50 years prior to '94. There's PLENTY of blame on BOTH SIDES to go around on these issues.....especially the border with Mexico.

I live in Atlanta, and I was listening to a Gwinnettt County teacher on the radio yesterday talking about the impact illegal aliens are having on our school system.

If you folks only knew the half what this is doing to our country, you would be marching on Washington with torches in hand!!!!

[cbs4me3]

Senator Kennedy and allies; keep up your efforts. You follow the true and courageous path to resolve immigration issues. May you succeed and put this country on a right path.

[infidel_us]

abbe7,

Don't push the "may-be", ba-by! :)

[panhandlpete]

Kennedy wants to know what the American People want to do with the 12 million illegals? So, let's tell him.

1) You came here illegally and broke our laws by doing so.
2) Go home at your expense or suffer law enforcement. (Welcome, if you come through the front door.)
3) ENFORCE all laws now on the books from the 1986 bill.
4) Give us total border security.

MAKING NEW LAWS IN NO WAY GAINS THE PUBLIC TRUST SINCE THE PRESENT LAWS HAVE NOT BEEN ENFORCED!!!!

If you have access to c=span2, please be watching these senators.....

[infidel_us]

It's very simple, you DC PINHEADS!

Militarize the border and close it
Enforce the existing laws

The majority will self deport. The rest can be deported as they are captured.

[cbs_oliver]

The framing of this as a matter concerning illegal immigrants is bogus. Many Americans are impacted by illegal immigrants who work for very low wages and many are also impacted by legal immigrants who work for substandard wages.

The correct framing is in terms of immigrant labor and substandard wages.

The real issue is the efforts of big business to drive worker wages down while pumping executive wages and investor returns up.

They like illegal workers better than legal ones because they can be hired for less and when they get injured or even killed either during transport or on the job there are no consequences for the businesses that exploit them.

But if illegal workers won't do then legal immigrants who will work for less are still requested.

Every year they cry about it - and every year they reap windfall profits.

A good start would be to tie immigration reform to minimum wage reform.

[prolegomena]

Our Republic is no longer, through the auspices of its elected leaders, even capable of functioning in a capacity to identify national interests of geographical and political sovereignty. Doesn't this alarm anyone?

It's almost like our entire political system is like a brain, shrunken and obfuscated by drugs and alcohol-- it can't see throug the haze of a thousand irrational and/or contradictory policy positions, to the root of what is required for the function of a democratic republic.

Listen closely... the bell tolls for us...

[penskeone]

Kennedy is A great Senator. Here is for the people! This is a bill that is going to Benefit all Americans

[penskeone]

Kennedy is A great Senator. Here is for the people! This is a bill that is going to Benefit all Americans

[bm6005]

Ya know as long as you folks claim the "demos did it" or "it's the repubs fault" you are giving them (pols) what they want. It's ALL their faults. They keep us at each others throats to keep us away from theirs, fools. Forget your d.a.m.n. party for a change, it's time to focus on your reps regardless of party. If they don't do what you want then vote against them and if they've been in DC more than two terms introduce them to the unemployment line!!!!!

[forthepeopl1]

AMERICANS TO CHANGE THIS ILLEIGAL ADMINASTRATION AS A VETERAN IT IS MY DUTY TO SAVE MY COUNTRY.

time to take up ARMS and take them all out.

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail],978-618-310
5

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now

[emmac6]

I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years. Driving everyday I would see groups of 25-50 male Mexicans gathered in public areas waiting for employment. I cannot believe this is something that Americans want to start occuring throughout the United States.

I have been in hospital waiting rooms where the vast majority were Hispanic women and children. I have been given government forms in Spanish despite the fact I am not Hispanic. I have been in Bank of America where I am the only one who speaks English other than the tellers. I have seen neighborhoods that had diversity became Mexican only neighborhoods. Areas like Koreatown, Little Toyko are now overwhelmingly Hispanic. The city is over 50% Mexican--many who do not speak English.

I am all for diversity in the US but these Senators need to understand that diversity has died in Los Angeles.

[drivelphobe]

Hey penskeone..

This bill goes against America, the citizens and taxpayers, our laws, our culture and is good only for the illegals and the scumbag, business owners who pocket what savings the think they make by using slave labor. This will divide America like never before.

These self-serving politicians supporting this illegal amnesty bill are doomed as far as their careers go. I hope Bush and Kennedy are proud of their roles in the death of America. If these illegals are given amnesty, the problems created will be insurmountable and permanent. Our America is going down in flames.

[barbaraf4]

Enforce existing laws!!

Impeach Bush!!

Within the next two elections, vote OUT every one of the scumbags currently in Washington!!

Do away with appointees. A large part of our government is run by non-elected officials (remember FEMA, for example).

And remember today's order to get more exercise.

[bm6005]

I'm all for marching down Pennsylvania Ave. with pitchforks, rakes and torches to kill the monster (our gov't). Is anyone else with me?

[klingon69]

Oh, by the way, the last time we granted amnesty, it also was under a Republican President. Remember that? I see a pattern here!
Posted by skyhawk761 at 09:09 AM : Jun 28, 2007
and Kennedy was one of the major proponets of that one too.

[drivelphobe]

To emmaC6.......

I still live in th eLos Angeles area and it is disgusting. I went to the Emergency Room last year for a dog bite and the room stunk with the smell of body odor, baby diapers, filth, and the jabbering in spanish made me sick. Bilngual forms for all the parasites. I was put ahead of the teeming masses, probably because I had insurance and spoke English. They don't just come is by themselves for treatment, they bring the whole familia so they take up every seat, teaching the offspring the ropes. The Mexican neighborhoods are gang ridden, rundown and look like Mexico. This has got to stop. These people do nothing for America except loot our system.

[realpatriot1]

bm6005,

I think I'd rather stay at home and watch on tv as the people with nightsticks, pepper gas, and shotguns arrest and disarm the people with the pitchforks.

I'm pretty sure that forthecrazypeople will join you.

[cpaide]

Areas like Koreatown, Little Toyko are now overwhelmingly Hispanic. The city is over 50% Mexican--many who do not speak English.

I am all for diversity in the US but these Senators need to understand that diversity has died in Los Angeles.
Posted by emmaC6 at 10:09 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Yes, and in Chinatown (Los Angeles), I have seen several itinerant taco vendors peddling their wares on the sidewalk just outside the doors of Chinese restaurants. What a crazy sight!

Maybe Olvera Street should be opened up to nationalities other than Mexican and turned into an international marketplace.

[l8c6]

I've voted dem all my life. I've hated what the neo con has stood for. I hated that Ronald Reagan was largely responsible for exacerbating this problem of people flooding over the border without documentation.

It appears today future and current protected borders begin at the gated communities of the most elite americans.

What I see today though is that this is not really a dem/rep issue as it is an issue between the dying middle class of this country and private U.S. and U.S./multinational corporations and pimped politicians. It is heinous that such large numbers of people could enter this country, live and work illegally straining the increasingly underfunded infrastructure and protest for rights initially flying the Mexican flag in the streets of one of our cities.

[nolalou]

forthepeopl,

You just don't give up do you? Let me humor you for a second, lets say by some f-ing miracle somehow a million people showed up with arms, and 'took them all out'? What do you think would happen then? I'll tell you what, there would be such a goverment crackdown, perhaps marshall law, that would make the Patriot Act look like the damned Bill of Rights! That would be after the military wiped you all off the face of the earth, and would be cheered on for doing so!

I said it before, and I'll say it again.. you are f-ging NUTS!

[omega39-2009]

Forget your d.a.m.n. party for a change, it's time to focus on your reps regardless of party. If they don't do what you want then vote against them and if they've been in DC more than two terms introduce them to the unemployment line!!!!!
Posted by bm6005

Bm6005, this whole experience has been a real eye opener, I have already decided I will be voting against all incumbents if only to attempt an upset of the apple cart and break the sense of complacency our representatives seem to be enjoying.

[micma-2009]

Thank God Bush is now a lame duck. Perhaps we can begin repairing the damage he's done to the nation and the world. It will probably take decades.

[infidel_us]

Kennedy is A great Senator. Here is for the people! This is a bill that is going to Benefit all Americans
Posted by penskeone at 10:05 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Ok, Ted......put down the vodka and get back to the debate! :)

[l8c6]

drivelphobe, Every person who speaks in favor of this amnesty sees the nice clean little hard working Mexican family crossing the border looking for a better way of life. They never see the neighborhoods where the numbers are in mass nor do they consider the results of open border with undocumented people coming through with mental illness, disease and criminal records. BTW, anyone hear about the "methamphetamine super cookers in Mexico"? Brace for the worst, the biggest drug scourge is yet to come.

The mariachi music is used as a form of harrassment to drive the long term legal residents away from their neighborhoods. The complaints result in tire tracks over the front lawn or worse.

The trashy reality needs to go to all neighborhoods in the U.S. but some of the biggest advocates live behind gated communities just as the elite in latin american countries do. It's easy for someone to be compassionate when one doesn't have to bear the consequences. It's easy for Nancy Reagan to "stand by her man" when she never had to lift him or wipe his a*ss.

[panhandlpete]

Martinez tells lies.....says he will not give amnesty to illegal aliens....I signed the petition to recall him.

He should know that the Mexicans coming into this country will not assimilate into our society, but gather together and take over total communities and towns, and aim their voices to take over the total political networks to benefit their own kind.

The people are trying to call their reps so much so that the phone system to the senate has been shut down.

The opposition got 10 minutes while the proponents of this bill got 50 minutes.....go figure!