Amnesty, Whatever

Source: washington times

It's a slam dunk, no really, that's why they have to keep telling us it's a slam dunk, get it?

Senators and lobbyists are putting the final touches on a comprehensive immigration-reform bill that includes an easier citizenship path for illegal aliens and weaker enforcement provisions than were in the highly criticized legislation that the Senate approved last year.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who ardently supports citizenship rights for illegals, will introduce the bill as early as next week, according to Senate sources knowledgeable about the negotiations. If the Senate Judiciary Committee can make quick work of the bill, it could be ready for floor action in April.
Mr. Kennedy drafted this year’s bill with help from Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, and outside lobbyists. Mr. McCain and the outside groups share Mr. Kennedy’s support for increased immigration and leniency for illegals already in the country.
Among the most active participants have been the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Both groups support giving current illegals a path to citizenship and increasing the flow of foreign workers into the country.
“It’s good for the country,” EWIC immigration lawyer Laura Reiff said of Mr. Kennedy’s bill.

Bi-partisan?

One of those e-mails obtained by The Times invited Democratic immigration staffers to a briefing in early January with “key stakeholders” to discuss workplace-enforcement provisions. The invitation listed six such “stakeholders,” including the chamber and EWIC. The other groups attending the meeting, according to the e-mail, were the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Immigration Law Center, the National Council of La Raza and the Service Employees International Union.
Not included in that meeting or any of the early meetings, according to several Senate aides, were key Republican senators or their staff who crossed the aisle last year to support “comprehensive” immigration reform that most Republicans considered a form of amnesty.

Of course your future president has been involved

The one Republican who all agree has been part of the negotiations from the start is Mr. McCain, who is running for his party’s presidential nomination. This worries Republicans who say that Mr. McCain is the last Republican they want representing their interests in negotiations with Mr. Kennedy over immigration legislation.
Mr. McCain and Mr. Kennedy have long embraced the same goal of giving illegal aliens a direct path to U.S. citizenship despite having broken laws to get here in the first place. Both men also denounce the view held by most Republicans that the federal government should first secure the border with Mexico and begin enforcing current laws before addressing other immigration issues such as what to do with the more than 10 million to 12 million aliens already here.

Won't pass, I would put money on it. Mr. Ilions at Polipundit sees the (D)'s as monolithic on this issue, suggesting that "If all democrats vote yes on this bill, 11 republicans will have to vote with them for it to pass. McCain, Brownback, Specter, Martinez, Graham, Hagel will be a yes vote. Throw in the usual RINO’s like Collins & Snowe, and this bill is 3 votes away from passing."

Just one problem with this scenario, no way in hell all (D)'s are voting for this bill, too many ran as 'tough on illegals' in conservative districts. In fact, a majority of (D)'s ran to the right of their (R) opponents on illegal immigration issues. We'll see how they square that circle but Magic Eight sez...Unlikely!

H/T Polipundit

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