Senate Immigration Debate Delayed

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has pushed back consideration of comprehensive immigration legislation until at least Wednesday to give senators and administration negotiators more time to work out a compromise.

"Some of the senators feel a breakthrough could take place, but they need all day Tuesday to do that," Reid said on the Senate floor Friday.

Reid had wanted to begin floor debate as early as Monday, but now envisions starting on Wednesday if senators agree to proceed.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised Reid’s decision, saying the delay would "give us the maximum opportunity to piece back together the bipartisan agreement that we thought we almost had a week or so ago."

We’ll see.

- Daniel W. Reilly