I don't think a vote was gained, but at least it wasn't lost. I'm not sure when Markey gets certified, it should be rather quickly though.
Chiesa replaced the NJ senator that passed. He's a republican but I'm fairly confident he will vote yes on the bill, he did so on the cloture vote on Monday.
They still have a couple of republican votes in play in Portman (OH) and Chambliss (GA), but they have been quoted that it all depends on their pending amendments. Portman wants a tougher E-verify system and Chambliss wants to make it tougher for agricultural workers to gain permanent residency. If those pass, which is very questionable right now, a few more republicans might vote yes.
Quote:
Meanwhile, Republicans began embracing Portman’s E-Verify proposal. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said it would “dramatically improve” the bill, and Hoeven has said he believes Portman’s amendment would pass and alone could bring two or three more GOP votes for the bill.
Portman, who opted not to include his E-Verify amendment in the broader Corker-Hoeven compromise, told reporters of his proposal: “I can’t vote for [the immigration bill] without it. We’ll see what’s in the final bill.”
But the Service Employees International Union, an influential labor constituency, issued a statement Tuesday urging senators to “steer clear” of Portman’s amendment. And Senate Democrats who feel they already have given too much in negotiations are resistant to the idea of making more concessions to Republicans.
“The point is: What do you have to pay?” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Gang of Eight and the second-ranking Senate Democrat. “Each additional vote is costly, and we have to draw the line.”
As for Chambliss, he said Tuesday that he has gotten little response to his pleas for more votes on his amendments, particularly on his proposal that would make it tougher for agricultural workers to obtain permanent residency in the United States.
Agricultural workers, along with the so-called DREAM Act-eligible immigrants, are able to petition for green cards within five years. All other undocumented immigrants have to wait at least a decade.
“I want to see the agriculture sector — No. 1 — be fair and comparable when it comes to a pathway to getting a green card,” Chambliss told reporters Tuesday. “Right now, it’s, frankly, too easy under the base bill here in agriculture to get a green card. It needs to be tightened up.”
|
Source