Key Democrat Senators Meet to Discuss Piecemeal Immigration Reform - Page 3

This is the last chance we have for a long time to actually make progress, lets hope this works out.

Whenever I see the word 'piece meal', I think of Kentucky Fried Chicken.... mmm.mm Good

Does anyone have any updates on what was decided at the meeting?

Politico.com is reporting that immigration reform "advocates" urged Reid and his "allies" to postpose CIR until after the Nov. elections because they (mostly RI4A, I guess) do not want to see it fail because of 'uneasiness among moderate Democrats' and 'opposition' from Republicans, as this could derail CIR for years".


Last Thursday, at a closed-door meeting between senior Democratic senators and immigration reform advocates, the parties concluded that passing a comprehensive bill would be an extremely tall order this year because of stiff GOP opposition and uneasiness among some Democratic moderates. A number of advocates felt that bringing up a bill this year, only to see it fail, could set back reform efforts for years, according to several people familiar with the meeting.


So Reid and his allies are considering abandoning a comprehensive bill until after November, for possible action in a post-election session or in the 112th Congress, which begins in January 2011.


Where does that leave Reid with the Latinos he’s wooing back home? Looking for smaller victories.

Reform advocates are beginning to lobby fence-sitting Republicans to see if they’d go along with supporting narrower immigration issues this year — strictly dealing with undocumented agricultural workers and children of illegal immigrants.

[i]Immigration reform doesn’t exactly top most senators’ election-year wish lists.

“The tax cuts expire, so they gotta come up this year,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). “Immigration? There is no expiration date on immigration.”[/I]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38776.html


Oh yeah, postponing it in 2009 and 2010 is what's doomed it for now. But, Lord behold us, because as soon as 2011 rolls in and more Republicans are in Congress, then all our prayers will be answered. Spineless. And Sen. Baucus saying that immigration has no expiration date, is akin to saying that time stands still so let's just wait for life to keep passing by. This jerk isn't even going to be in the Senate next year because he is 'retiring' after royally f****ing up healthcare reform.