Senators to offer changes to immigration bill

Ianus · 05-06-2013, 03:34 PM

It seems Politico has some potential insight into possible amendments to S.744.

Quote:

Foes and friends of reform are set to offer a slew of amendments to the mammoth immigration bill this week as the Senate Judiciary Committee begins to mark it up.

But observers believe that between Democrats, who hold the majority on the committee, and the two Gang of Eight Republicans who wrote the bill, it will emerge from committee largely unscathed.

“I suspect it’ll come back [from committee] with a 13-5 margin, and that’ll be a tremendous momentum going to the Senate floor,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-reform group America’s Voice.

“I think it’s clear based on how the committee has operated that they’re going to pass this thing through the committee,” said Ira Mehlman, media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which opposes the bill. “Probably the real fight is going to come when it reaches the floor.”

The parade of amendments expected to be offered to the 844-page bill — all of which are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday — could number dozens or more. The amendments offer a preview of the floor fight over the most sweeping changes to immigration laws in more than two decades.

“There’s so many problems with the legislation that it’s hard to know where to start,” Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a leading foe of the bill who plans to introduce multiple amendments in committee, told reporters on a conference call last week.

(PHOTOS: The Senate immigration plan at a glance)

The most controversial amendment — which will come from Democrats — will likely be one to allow U.S. citizens to sponsor a same-sex partner for a green card. Most Judiciary Democrats support the measure, but Republicans on and off the committee have warned that including it could kill the bill altogether.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), is expected to offer the amendment — known as the Uniting American Families Act — but neither he nor his aides have confirmed that he will.

On Sunday, Leahy tried to dismiss the notion that including the provision would doom the legislation.

“You know, we’ve had about 10 different things that people say will kill it,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Well, the fact is, there are a lot of people who want to kill an immigration bill no matter what.”

On Thursday, the powerful panel will open the first day of what is expected to be a long series of markups to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act. Senators will be eager to leave their own imprint on the bill, but the tricky part will be for the committee to produce something that won’t shatter the bipartisan Gang of Eight coalition that crafted the legislation in the first place.

Four of the Gang sit on the committee: Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona on the Republican side and Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Chuck Schumer of New York on the Democratic side. The Gang of Eight members have pledged to oppose anything that would spell doom for the bill on the floor.

“Nothing’s perfect, and we can always strive to make this consensus more perfect,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. “But you can’t allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.”

No amendments have been made public so far, save for a new draft of the Gang of Eight immigration bill that largely fixes technical errors in the first version.

Outside groups on both sides of the debate don’t believe the Gang’s bill will change dramatically. The advocates look at this math: The 10 Democrats on the Judiciary panel would band together to defeat amendments that would significantly alter the legislation, as would the two Republican Gang members.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) also has spoken positively about the bill, although he hasn’t committed to supporting it. Immigration advocates are eyeing Hatch as one of the likeliest Republican votes for comprehensive reform.

Still, Republicans who ardently oppose the bill are poised to attack the legislation on all fronts — security, costs and citizenship — despite their unlikely prospects in the committee.

Sessions is set to propose several changes in markup. He is looking at further restricting the ability for illegal immigrants transitioning into the system to access public benefits, particularly at the state and local levels.

He also wants to reduce the influx of low-skilled workers into the U.S., warning that wages will be pulled down and job opportunities will be limited for current legal immigrants and U.S. citizens.

One Republican aide also signaled that conservatives could mount an effort against the shorter, five-year path to green cards proposed for DREAM Act-eligible immigrants and agricultural workers.

A spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said he is looking at changes in six to eight areas of the wide-ranging bill. Lee, along with Sessions, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and perhaps Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is all but certain to oppose the final product unless it dramatically veers to the right.

“This bill, it’s just a mess,” Lee spokesman Brian Phillips said.

The terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon last month are also likely to prompt several security-related amendments. Graham is mulling over an amendment that would require broader background checks for so-called high-risk immigrants, according to his spokesman.

And non-Gang senators will advocate for legislation that they’ve written to be included. A spokeswoman for Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said he’ll propose an amendment that would protect children whose parents are ensnared in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Hatch is lobbying for his I-Squared bill, which would further boost the number of high-tech visas from the figures in the Gang’s legislation.

Blumenthal said in an interview that he may offer a shorter pathway to citizenship than the 13 years outlined for most illegal immigrants in the Senate legislation. The former Connecticut attorney general said he is also investigating ways to make the DREAM Act provisions more expansive.

Franken will also propose amendments targeting the E-Verify system, which all employers would be required to use under the legislation. He has raised concerns that legal workers were too often getting flagged in the system as lacking proper documentation.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who immigrated from Japan as a young girl, is expected to put forward amendments on family reunification. The legislation currently tilts against family-based visas; it would eliminate the ability of U.S. citizens to sponsor their foreign siblings for green cards.

Other senators on the committee are keeping mum on their amendment strategy. But in recent statements, lawmakers have forecast the kinds of fixes they’re eyeing.

For instance, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said during a Judiciary Committee hearing last month that more attention is needed to improve land-based ports of entry — particularly on the U.S.-Mexico border. The No. 2 ranking Senate Republican has also pointed to problems with the biometric exit system.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is not on the Judiciary Committee but is a leading Gang member, has repeatedly warned that his legislation would need changes to clear Congress.

“The part we still have to do some work on is this border stuff,” Rubio told Sean Hannity on his radio show last week. “This bill will not pass the House and quite frankly, may struggle to pass the Senate if it doesn’t deal with that issue.”

Smooth · 05-06-2013, 03:39 PM

Senator Cruz is a disappointment.

freshh. · 05-06-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

One Republican aide also signaled that conservatives could mount an effort against the shorter, five-year path to green cards proposed for DREAM Act-eligible immigrants and agricultural workers.

Come again?

2Face · 05-06-2013, 04:09 PM

It is absolutely clear at this stage many GOP Senators like Sessions and Cruz will not be voting for the final bill. Then why do they want to offer amendments? These are positive signs for CIR! This thing will clear the full Senate indefinitely. The showdown will be in the House. It will pass this month in Senate. Can't speculate yet on the House time frame but I'm hoping by end of June.

Lost Generation · 05-06-2013, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

It is absolutely clear at this stage many GOP Senators like Sessions and Cruz will not be voting for the final bill. Then why do they want to offer amendments? These are positive signs for CIR! This thing will clear the full Senate indefinitely. The showdown will be in the House. It will pass this month in Senate. Can't speculate yet on the House time frame but I'm hoping by end of June.

Or session could be the dick that knew he can't do anything to stop it but why not making it harder for the rest of us

IamAman · 05-06-2013, 05:08 PM

When the senators ask to add amendment, they should be asked whether they would support the bill with the amendment. If not, then they can go pound sand.

Demise · 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamAman

When the senators ask to add amendment, they should be asked whether they would support the bill with the amendment. If not, then they can go pound sand.

Yeah that should be it, you propose an amendment you're locked into voting yes. Or you want to amend a bill, get ready to co-sponsor it.

DA User · 05-06-2013, 05:35 PM

What is a high risk immigrant?

Pianoswithoutfaith · 05-06-2013, 06:40 PM

Google it DA User

NK74 · 05-06-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

It is absolutely clear at this stage many GOP Senators like Sessions and Cruz will not be voting for the final bill. Then why do they want to offer amendments? These are positive signs for CIR! This thing will clear the full Senate indefinitely. The showdown will be in the House. It will pass this month in Senate. Can't speculate yet on the House time frame but I'm hoping by end of June.

They want to offer amendments in order to poison the passage of the bill. If an amendment which is too democrat friendly or too republican friendly passes, then the whole bill might not be able to garner the necessary 60 votes in order to force cloture.

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Senators to offer changes to immigration bill