WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said Tuesday that she is "strongly leaning" to supporting a bipartisan immigration overhaul bill that would allow the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants to eventually qualify for citizenship if they pay back taxes, learn English, pass criminal background checks and pay fines. But Landrieu said it will come down to the amendment process. She...
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said Tuesday that she is "strongly leaning" to supporting a bipartisan immigration overhaul bill that would allow the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants to eventually qualify for citizenship if they pay back taxes, learn English, pass criminal background checks and pay fines.
But Landrieu said it will come down to the amendment process. She is looking for measures that would strengthen job training so more Americans can get high-tech jobs and adjustments to help small businesses deal with the e-verify system the bill requires to keep undocumented workers from being hired.
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., meanwhile, said he's working with a group of GOP lawmakers to make major changes in the legislation.
He wants tougher enforcement provisions, including a system to better track people in the United States on temporary visas so they don't overextend their stays as he said many of the 911 terrorists did.
Vitter said the "major problem" with the legislation -- drafted by four Republican and four Democratic senators -- is that it gives illegal immigrants legal status before all the needed enforcement mechanisms are in place.
To get his vote, Vitter said, the legal status must be delayed until the enforcement tools -- and "they need to go well beyond" those provided in the current bill -- are fully in effect.
The bill received an 84-15 vote Tuesday that allowed debate to proceed. The question is whether it can get the 60 votes needed to pass. Vitter said he guesses that the bill has close to 60 senators who are probably learning toward support.
But he said in 2007, another immigration reform bill appeared headed for Senate passage -- with backing from then President George W. Bush. But it never made it through the Senate after lots of angry voters began calling their senators to protest the legislation.
"The big question is how tuned in the American people become to the debate and how active they are in responding - pro and con," Vitter said.
Vitter concedes that what is different now is some Republican leaders are convinced that if the party is seen as killing immigration reform it would continue, and perhaps, worsen the trend of declining support for GOP presidential candidates by Hispanic voters. Vitter said he disagrees with that analysis, saying the "worst political scenario" in his view would be for Republicans to support a flawed immigration bill.
Landrieu said she believes immigration reform is "broadly supported" across the nation and in Louisiana.
"There's a broad understanding that immigration reform is crucial for the economic strength of our country, and the bill before us is certainly worthy of debate," Landrieu said. In Japan, she said, current policy allows very limited immigration, a factor, combined with declining population that has been a drag on that nation's economy for decades.
The United States needs a strong immigration policy for "robust economic growth," Landrieu said.
Landrieu said she'll offer and support what she calls "friendly amendments" to strengthen the legislation.
"Particularly in the areas that will help small businesses the most, including making sure they have an express-lane to visas," Landrieu said. "I will also be focused on increasing investment in science and math education, and workforce development for our current citizens.
"We can either import those skills and talent from overseas or we can grow that talent here at home - I want to do more here at home."
Landrieu said she hopes the debate and amendment process will result in a "strong, balanced bill that tightens our border security; provides a tough, but fair path forward for undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S., and addresses the needs of our industries, particularly hospitality, agriculture and high-tech."
Among the provisions of the bill, now headed for several weeks of debate, are:
- $6.5 billion to improve security along the southwest border with Mexico.
- Require all businesses to check the immigration status of job applications through a computerized "e-verify system."
- Increase the number of high-tech and lower-skilled workers on short-term visas.
President Barack Obama met with a wide variety of groups that support immigration reform at the White House Thursday.
Obama told the crowd that there are indeed 11 million men and women who are in the United States illegally - people "who broke the rules, "didn't wait their turn" and "shouldn't be let off easy."
"But at the same time, the vast majority of these individuals aren't looking for any trouble. They're just looking to provide for their families, contribute to their communities. They're our neighbors. We know their kids."
"Too often, they're forced to do what they do in a shadow economy where shady employers can exploit them by paying less than the minimum wage, making them work without overtime, not giving them any benefits. That pushes down standards for all workers. It's bad for everybody."