Today Is An Important Day for Immigration Bill

Hey folks,

Today is the day, they voted to close the Amnesty Bill from any further amendments on Tuesday. They debated the amendments that were added before that Wednesday. Today, is to close all debate.
According to CNN -Immigration bill survives Senate challenges

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A delicately crafted immigration reform bill emerged largely unscathed from a day of legislative wrangling in the Senate on Wednesday, with supporters beating back a number of potentially fatal amendments in what one lawmaker likened to "trench warfare."

The Senate began working through a list of 27 amendments to the bill, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said would come up for a final vote by the end of the week.

Proponents won a major victory with defeat of an amendment removing the bill's most controversial feature -- a path to legalization and eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, which critics charge amounts to amnesty.

“I think most people will recognize that citizenship is the most precious gift America can provide," said Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, the sponsor of the amendment. "There are many of us who believe it should not serve as a reward to those who broke the law."

But if the President signs this bill folks, they are LEGAL. It doesn’t matter if they are citizens. They are here LEGALLY. It is STILL amnesty with word play. That is all this STILL is folks. Do not be fooled.

Senators voted 56-41 to table his amendment, effectively killing it. However, in a sharp illustration of the political heartburn the "amnesty" debate is causing Republicans, Bond's proposal was supported by 33 of the Senate's 49 GOP members, along with eight Democrats.

Also defeated Wednesday was an amendment by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that would have required adult illegal immigrants to return to their home country within two years in order to apply for a new type of visa that will allow them to stay in the United States indefinitely.

NO ONE is going home.

Senators also turned back two Democratic amendments, from Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, that would have made it easier for immigrants to bring family members from their home countries to the United States.

They still can.

By a 79-18 vote, senators shot down an amendment by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, that would have limited the legalization process to illegal immigrants who have been in the country at least four years, rather than covering all of them in the country at the end of 2006.

EVERYONE of them get LEGAL. Today is the second big vote. According to the AP-Immigration bill faces crucial vote By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer

Conservative Republican senators and a handful of Democrats are trying to put a final knife in President Bush's plan for legalizing millions of unlawful immigrants.

A broad immigration bill, embracing what critics call amnesty, survived a series of unfriendly amendments Wednesday. Supporters pointed to the bill's tighter borders and workplace rules to keep it alive.

Both sides agreed the crucial vote occurs Thursday. Supporters must gain 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to limit debate and clear the way for a roll call on final passage, perhaps by Friday. Anything less will likely doom the legislation until a new president and Congress take office in 2009.

Today is the day. Now is the time to increase, not decrease, your calling, writing, and telling congress, it is simple. “You vote for this bill, you lose all future votes from us.” In essence, you vote Yes for this bill, you are out. Period. You will NEVER be voted for by the American people again.

Right now, there are some on both sides that are not happy.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was among those disappointed Wednesday. The Senate voted 55-40 to reject his amendment that would have made it easier for some immigrants to obtain visas for family members left behind in their home countries.

"This action does nothing to allay my concerns about the increasingly right-wing tilt to these proceedings, and it makes it more difficult to vote in favor of invoking cloture on the bill," Menendez said, referring to Thursday's crucial vote to limit debate.

This is NOT Roight wing, Left Wing, politics. This is RIght and WRONG. NOBODY wants this bill. NO ONE except a small number of absolute looneys on both sides. The American people do NOT want this bill.

According to Reuters -Senate heads for crucial immigration vote

The Senate heads for a make-or-break vote on Thursday on President George W. Bush's plan to overhaul immigration laws after Senate leaders battled to fend off efforts by opponents to derail the bill.

The ultimate fate of the bill remained in doubt as the Senate prepared to decide on Thursday whether to bring debate to a close and move toward a final vote on the controversial legislation that would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants.
This is not over yet folks. They voted to debate amendments. They did. Today is the day to watch. This is STILL an amnesty bill. No other way to look at it. It must be stopped. YOU must be heard. If they pass this today, I guarantee you a vote on Friday. They may even vote later today for final passage to make sure YOU do not get to your “representative” before the final vote.

Folks, plain and simple. Do not give up. This is an important moment. NOW is the time that will kill the careers of ANY Senator that votes for this Amnesty bill. You need to make sure that they KNOW this before they vote.
Peter



Sources;
CNN -Immigration bill survives Senate challenges
AP-Immigration bill faces crucial vote
Reuters -Senate heads for crucial immigration vote