WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Monday to set time limits on debate over a sweeping immigration immigration bill, paving the way for likely passage later in the week. The vote was 67-27, seven more than needed. Supporting cloture were 52 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Louisiana's senators split along with party lines with Republican David Vitter voting against and Democrat...
WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Monday to set time limits on debate over a sweeping immigration immigration bill, paving the way for likely passage later in the week.
The vote was 67-27, seven more than needed. Supporting cloture were 52 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Louisiana's senators split along with party lines with Republican David Vitter voting against and Democrat Mary Landrieu voting in favor.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who co-authored an amendment to add $46 billion in new border security measures, said he doesn't know how any senator who favors better enforcement could vote against the amended bill. Among the provisions, a doubling of border agents along the Mexican border, and purchase of sophisticated military style equipment, including drones, to monitor border breaches.
"This will significantly reduce the amount of illegal immigration we have in this country," said Corker, pointing to support from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer as evidence the amendment has real teeth.
Before Corker and Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota negotiated their enforcement amendment with the Senate "Gang of 8" -- four Democrats and four Republicans who wrote the original bill -- backers were worried they could get the 60 votes needed to end a threatened filibuster.
There will be one more procedural vote before a vote on final passage, probably Thursday or Friday. Passage of the Senate bill, or something similar, is considered a long shot in the Republican-led House.
Vitter and other Republican opponents, argued that the measure, despite the stronger border security provisions, is badly flawed because it grants temporary legal status for millions of illegal immigrants before the improved security is in place. Vitter said temporary status should wait until improved border security has been implemented and is shown to be working -- the only way he insists to insure promised upgrades move forward.
Corker responded that the bill provides strong incentives to move forward with enforcement. An illegal immigrant can't get a green card or other permanent legal status until the secretary of Homeland security certifies that 90 percent of the border enforcement provisions have been put into place, he said.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said that the legislation was likely to produce the same results as a 1987 immigration reform law that also gave immediate legal status for illegal immigrants. The promised enforcement improvements never came, Cruz said.
"I will gladly secure the border next Tuesday for legalization today," Cruz said.
Vitter was hoping that an influx of calls by voters opposed to the legislation would derail the measure - much as opposition killed a 2007 reform bill.
But this time the bill has garnered more Democratic and Republican support.
Landrieu, who joined 15 other Democrats to kill the 2007 bill, is now saying she's very likely to vote for the legislation, though she's still pressing for some amendments.
Landrieu has said that the current "broken immigration system," isn't good for anyone -- immigrants, businesses or law enforcement. The measure has won support of groups ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to the AFL-CIO.
"This broken system has produced dysfunctional outcomes," said Sen. Charles Schumer, the bill's lead sponsor. "It has created an unsustainable situation where thousands of people cross our southern border illegally each day while, at the same time, we continue to see shortages in much needed occupations such as doctors, scientists, engineers, and agricultural workers. And, on the flip side, the fact that we do not have good, strong, workable federal immigration laws is now causing states to pass inconsistent laws that create havoc for employers and law enforcement."
Over the weekend, Vitter tweeted his views that the Corker-Hoeven amendment isn't sufficient:
"Page 121 of Corker amendt says illegal immigrants can keep their confiscated property. Wonder if Federales extend same courtesy to Americans?" tweeted Vitter. Another Vitter tweet said: "Found 8 'emergency spending' items so far to hide true costs. Fast tracking amnesty is not an emergency! I'll continue to fight. #noamnesty."
Landrieu and several other Democrats have raised questions about increased visas that can be used by foreign workers to take jobs at U.S. businesses. Landrieu said she has been pushing for better training for U.S. workers and better protection for American workers.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., wants to lower the number of cultural visas permitted under the legislation.
"At a time when nearly 14 percent of the American people do not have a full-time job, at a time when the middle class continues to disappear, and at a time when tens of millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, it makes no sense to me that the immigration reform bill includes a massive increase in temporary guest worker programs that will allow large corporations to import and bring into this country hundreds of thousands of temporary blue-collar and white-collar guest workers from overseas," Sanders said.