Key Senate chairman worries immigration overhaul pace too slow

Ianus · 03-20-2013, 03:46 PM

Considering immigration is a complex issue this could take some time.

Quote:

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday expressed impatience with the pace of work to produce an immigration overhaul proposal for congressional consideration.

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) said he had been urging President Obama to bring forward legislation for months but understood his decision to hold off while a bipartisan group of eight senators quietly works on their own proposal.

However, Leahy said that group has now missed several deadlines as well. He had hoped members of his committee–the first stop for any immigration legislation–would be able to review a bill over the two-week congressional recess that begins next week, then begin committee work in April.

“This process will take time. It will not be easy. There will be strongly-held, differing points of view,” he said, in opening remarks to a committee hearing about due process in immigration. “Because we do not yet have legislative language to debate, the Senate Judiciary Committee will not be able to report a comprehensive immigration bill by the end of April, which was my goal.”

There is broad agreement among those who want to complete an immigration law revision that the process must move quickly, while the results of the last election are still fresh and Republicans appear open to the changes. The Senate group has been working feverishly to produce a bill. Still, the senators had said they hoped to complete their work in March. Now, they hope to put a bill forward next month, after the recess.

“This is a complicated issue that needs to be done the right way,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a member of the group, indicating the senators hope to submit legislation right after the recess concludes. “There are some items that are still outstanding and that we need to work through. Assuming we can get those worked out, the answer is yes. But it has to be done the right way.”

Leahy’s comments come a day after six Republicans submitted a letter complaining that the immigration overhaul process is moving too quickly and asking Leahy to hold additional hearings into the matter.

Wednesday’s hearing marked the third since the bipartisan group unveiled joint principles for action in January and made clear they hoped to submit legislation for committee approval soon.

sammy123 · 03-20-2013, 03:54 PM

they had months to get ready after election. if not, years.

RJD · 03-20-2013, 04:00 PM

some say it's moving too fast and some say it's moving too slow

dtrt09 · 03-20-2013, 06:03 PM

This is very frustrating and it angers me - it angers me because Obama has not been, nor is the best strategist on immigration. This looks like stalling tactics - the "leak" of Obama's bill was intentional, no matter what the White House says. There's no way to have this done by Summer if the Senate bill isn't done in the next two weeks.

Why aren't we hearing deadlines and timelines from the working Senators themselves? No, it doesn't jeopardize the negotiations, not one of the Senators has said they will stop working and throw a tantrum if this is discussed by them. It all slowed down after the press published Obama's calls to them agreeing to let them go at their own pace.

Upcoming recesses for the rest of the year:

03/25 - 04/05
04/29 - 05/03
05/27 - 05/31
07/01 - 07/05
08/05 - 09/06 both Senate and the House.

Plus budget, gun control, environmental and tax legislation still to be debated. I think we're being bs'd.

Ianus · 03-20-2013, 06:20 PM

It is frustrating,but I think we should understand this is just the beginning of the process.We have to be patient with the process and not necessarily the timeline if we're to be effective.

dtrt09 · 03-20-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianus

It is frustrating,but I think we should understand this is just the beginning of the process.We have to be patient with the process and not necessarily the timeline if we're to be effective.

Disagree - timing and votes are the key, not the process. This is the right time; the votes are here now.

Ianus · 03-20-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Disagree - timing and votes are the key, not the process. This is the right time; the votes are here now.

I think the 'process' also takes timing and votes into account which are also important.

dtrt09 · 03-20-2013, 06:32 PM

They've missed all the deadlines, self-imposed and encouraged by the chairman. If they'd been writing legislation since last year, the draft should be ready by now. Obama care had to pass while the opportunity was present and yes, they did not go thru the formal process because doing so meant missing the right time. All I've got to say is that they are very well aware that dragging their feet means less chance for passage. We know that too. Timing is of the essence.

Late Spring and early Summer will be too late to go thru the process; a vote, yes, that is doable by then, but to start hearings in May is too late.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

September

Key Senate chairman worries immigration overhaul pace too slow