GOW125
06-28-2006, 03:42 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA062706.immigration.en.28b0fcd.html
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators, backed by business and Latino groups, called Tuesday for House lawmakers to drop delaying tactics and begin negotiations on a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
The senators who back a comprehensive bill held a news conference to build support as the House prepared to hold field hearings next week in Laredo and San Diego, Calif., on border enforcement needs.
"We want to negotiate. We want to sit down and discuss this. We want conferees appointed so we can go over the normal legislative process,'' said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
House GOP leaders have called for hearings this summer on the Senate immigration bill, a strategy critics say will delay consideration of a comprehensive bill in politically charged election year.
Indeed, lawmakers were closely watching Tuesday's congressional primary race in Utah where immigration was an overriding issue among GOP voters. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., told the news conference that those who "are going to politicize the issue are absolutely wrong.''
But House Republican leaders believe the issue helps them draw a sharp contrast with Democrats and will help energize the conservative base. A statement from House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the Senate bill, which offers a guest worker program and earned legalization "is the wrong direction for our country and exemplifies the notorious weakness of Capitol Hill Democrats on defense and border security issues.''
Republicans have dubbed the Senate immigration bill the "Reid-Kennedy immigration bill,'' after Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and liberal stalwart Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
"You can call it a banana if you want to,'' McCain told the news conference, dismissing the partisan jibe.
"I'm not a banana,'' retorted Kennedy, to laughter.
Special interests groups who back comprehensive reform, guest worker plans and earned legalization, stood behind the senators, underscoring their concern that time is running out for Congress to tackle the sweeping issue.
Lawmakers begin field hearings on immigration on July 7, with congressional panels reviewing border security needs in Laredo and San Diego.
To counter the border enforcement hearings, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is holding a field hearing July 5 in Philadelphia on the need for a guest worker plan.
The Senate passed a bill that includes guest worker and earned legalization provisions, as well as border security measures that include worksite enforcement and additional Border Patrol agents and fence.
A House border enforcement bill, which would also make felons of undocumented immigrants, and churches and charities that aid them, was approved in December.
President Bush has backed the Senate bill, with its guest worker and legalization measures, but he also praised the House legislation, which some minority and religious rights groups view as punitive.
McCain spoke with the president Tuesday and received assurances the Bush administration would push for comprehensive immigration reform – even though it has split the party.
"He is committed,'' McCain said.
But Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a lead negotiator, said he would not accept legislation that would put undocumented immigrants on the path to citizenship.
Sensenbrenner said he would prefer no bill to a bad bill.
GOP leaders have said that conferees would likely not be appointed until after the month-long August recess, leaving lawmakers little time to craft a final bill before the Nov. 7 election.
Meanwhile, Washington was watching the Utah GOP primary where incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon, a five-term lawmaker, was disparaged as soft on immigration by challenger John Jacob.
Cannon voted for the House immigration bill, but also backs Bush's push for a guest worker program.
Cannon came under attack with advertisements bought by a political action committee headed by illegal immigration firebrand Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.
Jacob has called for undocumented immigrants to be deported and harsh fines levied on employers who hire them.
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators, backed by business and Latino groups, called Tuesday for House lawmakers to drop delaying tactics and begin negotiations on a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
The senators who back a comprehensive bill held a news conference to build support as the House prepared to hold field hearings next week in Laredo and San Diego, Calif., on border enforcement needs.
"We want to negotiate. We want to sit down and discuss this. We want conferees appointed so we can go over the normal legislative process,'' said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
House GOP leaders have called for hearings this summer on the Senate immigration bill, a strategy critics say will delay consideration of a comprehensive bill in politically charged election year.
Indeed, lawmakers were closely watching Tuesday's congressional primary race in Utah where immigration was an overriding issue among GOP voters. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., told the news conference that those who "are going to politicize the issue are absolutely wrong.''
But House Republican leaders believe the issue helps them draw a sharp contrast with Democrats and will help energize the conservative base. A statement from House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the Senate bill, which offers a guest worker program and earned legalization "is the wrong direction for our country and exemplifies the notorious weakness of Capitol Hill Democrats on defense and border security issues.''
Republicans have dubbed the Senate immigration bill the "Reid-Kennedy immigration bill,'' after Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and liberal stalwart Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
"You can call it a banana if you want to,'' McCain told the news conference, dismissing the partisan jibe.
"I'm not a banana,'' retorted Kennedy, to laughter.
Special interests groups who back comprehensive reform, guest worker plans and earned legalization, stood behind the senators, underscoring their concern that time is running out for Congress to tackle the sweeping issue.
Lawmakers begin field hearings on immigration on July 7, with congressional panels reviewing border security needs in Laredo and San Diego.
To counter the border enforcement hearings, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is holding a field hearing July 5 in Philadelphia on the need for a guest worker plan.
The Senate passed a bill that includes guest worker and earned legalization provisions, as well as border security measures that include worksite enforcement and additional Border Patrol agents and fence.
A House border enforcement bill, which would also make felons of undocumented immigrants, and churches and charities that aid them, was approved in December.
President Bush has backed the Senate bill, with its guest worker and legalization measures, but he also praised the House legislation, which some minority and religious rights groups view as punitive.
McCain spoke with the president Tuesday and received assurances the Bush administration would push for comprehensive immigration reform – even though it has split the party.
"He is committed,'' McCain said.
But Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a lead negotiator, said he would not accept legislation that would put undocumented immigrants on the path to citizenship.
Sensenbrenner said he would prefer no bill to a bad bill.
GOP leaders have said that conferees would likely not be appointed until after the month-long August recess, leaving lawmakers little time to craft a final bill before the Nov. 7 election.
Meanwhile, Washington was watching the Utah GOP primary where incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon, a five-term lawmaker, was disparaged as soft on immigration by challenger John Jacob.
Cannon voted for the House immigration bill, but also backs Bush's push for a guest worker program.
Cannon came under attack with advertisements bought by a political action committee headed by illegal immigration firebrand Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.
Jacob has called for undocumented immigrants to be deported and harsh fines levied on employers who hire them.