Bush Fights for Immigration Bill's Survival
CBNNews.com
June 14, 2007
CBNNews.com - President Bush continues his efforts to get his immigration bill back on track.
Bush endorsed a plan by two Republican senators that calls for more funds for tighter border security and workplace enforcement. The money would be collected through fees and other penalties.
"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said in a speech to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Sens. John Kyl of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have proposed these amendments to current legislation that has been derailed in Congress.
Backers of the immigration bill hope an amendment proposals could win over GOP conservative hold-outs as well as the American public.
Bush said the measure would "show the American people that we're going to do our jobs of securing this border once and for all."
Under the plan, $4.4 billion would directly go to border security. The funds would then be reclaimed once the new fees established. This would ensure that the subject of border security would not be brought up in yearly budget negotiations.
It is all a part of the White House effort to collect enough votes to get the measure passed.
Some lawmakers say they are not supporting the bill because they do not believe it will improve border security.
There are still several questions about exactly what the bill would address. Some wonder how much money it would generate yearly toward border security. Others question whether the money would be in addition to current border security funding levels. The White House has been unable to provide the answers.
Right now, there is a compromise in place drafted by a bipartisan group of senators on the Bush-supported bill. But sources tell The Associated Press the deal is in trouble. A large number of Republican senators strongly oppose it because it provides a legal solution for millions of immigrants who entered the country illegally.
Bush said the bill emphasizes security by requiring tougher border and workplace measures before new options for immigrants and guest workers could begin. Already, he said, border agents are capturing and sending home huge numbers of people trying to cross illegally.
"They're working hard down there, and they're making progress," Bush said. "People are doing the jobs we expect them do, and now we're going to build on that progress."
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the White House feels good about its chances for bringing the bill back to the floor now.
"We feel confident there are going to be enough votes for cloture," he said.
Source: Associated Press
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