CLOTURE PASSES, BILL MOVES FORWARD

64 votes in the affirmative, 35 no votes. The "clay pigeon" legislative maneuver will be used to speed up the amendment voting process - basically it's a way to get a lot of votes quickly without having to have separate introduction of each amendment.

President Bush is now speaking and encouraging supporters of the bill to keep working to get the job done.

Comments

[Waiting for this week to be over]

And John, I don't believe Dole voted for the first cloture yesterday. I don't believe Webb is going to get his amendment through, and Brownback.......I think we probably will lose him since he knows there's no way he can win the republican primary after voting "yay" on the next cloture.

That brings me to another point...how do these republican candidates, who are so opposed to any path to citizenship, such as the major flip flopping Romney, expect to win in the national election? Do they really think they can get the Hispanic vote after such comments as "we will slowly and humanely replace the illigals with US citizens" (from Romney). I for one am hoping that Romney wins the primary so I can see him flip back to the position of path to citizenship. I mean come on, what are they thinking? It's going to be one fun election next year, with Romney's "humanely replacing illegals" or Guliani's "let's create a database of illegals", like all these illegals will come forth, just so they can be in a "database" and be deported.

[Waiting for the week to be over]

John,

Does that mean that they will not start voting on all the amendments till after the second cloture vote tomorrow? I thought they will get through all the amendments before tomorrows vote and we risk losing senators then because some might not have their amendments approved. I am really confused. Let's just hope and pray for a miracle this week. We have'nt even gone to the House yet, God knows what awaits us there.

[John]

To annoyed:

Thats not correct. Senators whose amendments are included, were inclined to vote yes on today's cloture because they want to get a vote on their amendments> Depending on the outcome of the vote on their amendments they can change their vote, but thats inlikely, since they have commited to vote for cloture to send the bill to final vote in order to have their amendment voted. The White House is expecting to lose 2-3 senators during the Thursday's vote [Dole being one of them, with Brownback and Webb the other possible two]. However, the opponents of the bill must gain 5 votes in order to defeat cloture on Thursday [assuming everyone who voted yes will be present]. Unless, certain killer amendments pass, such as the one proposed by Menendez, Hutchison, Dole, Chambliss etc], there will likely be 62 Yes on Thursday cloture vote. KEEP HOPE!!! LETS PRAY!!!

To annoyed:

Thats not correct. Senators whose amendments are included, were inclined to vote yes on today's cloture because they want to get a vote on their amendments> Depending on the outcome of the vote on their amendments they can change their vote, but thats inlikely, since they have commited to vote for cloture to send the bill to final vote in order to have their amendment voted. The White House is expecting to lose 2-3 senators during the Thursday's vote [Dole being one of them, with Brownback and Webb the other possible two]. However, the opponents of the bill must gain 5 votes in order to defeat cloture on Thursday [assuming everyone who voted yes will be present]. Unless, certain killer amendments pass, such as the one proposed by Menendez, Hutchison, Dole, Chambliss etc], there will likely be 62 Yes on Thursday cloture vote. KEEP HOPE!!! LETS PRAY!!!

[annoyed but hopeful]

One thing I noticed is that most, if not all, of the Republicans who have amendments pending, voted yes on cloture. You would think they would not vote no on cloture if they have an amendment pending. That would be bizarre. Why propose an amendment if you have no plans to have it voted on? I would expect, however, that if their amendments don't get passed, they will be inclined to vote NO on the final yes or no vote. I think this makes passage quite unlikely as many of their amendments are not likely to pass. The same may be true for some Democrats.

One thing people here may not realize is there is near panic among overseas health care workers (RNs and physical therapists) who have been spending vasts sums of money (licensing exams, language testing, legal fees, education, etc., etc.) preparing to qualify for permanent residency here in the U.S.. Unless the new Cantwell amendment (haven't read it yet) puts schedule A back in, their dreams are ruined as few would qualify under the new points system.

Unless you consider foreign nurses evil, I would stop this nonsense about good versus evil. They are almost all hoping CIR fails for obvious reasons, just as illegals are hoping it will pass for obvious reasons.

[son]

Long Live Immigrants! God Bless America!!!

Keep Hope Alive!

[Hoping for a Miracle]

If this thing does not clear the Senate, I don't think I'll ever be able to look or hear Sean Hannity again and not throw up. Let's all pray for a miracle.

I hate to be pessemistic, but this is just an empty promise, in the end they will give it to the anti immigrant minority, there are senators that are truly trying to get a bill, those who side with them right now who are against this bill are just taking everybody for a ride, they will kill this bill on the debate, but who knows miracle can happen. Goodluck to all of us who needs this reform, they will never break the spirit of those who thrive to have a better life, so forget about the attrition tactics.

Goodluck, this is now a battle between good and evil, who will prevail ?

[Thank God!]

And we have the first Cloture!!

Let now hope and pray for the next big one on Thursday. This will be a nerve racking rest of the week.

[annoyed but hopeful]

It would have been stupid not to pass the first vote and see how the bill can be amended. Give it a chance. If it still has major problems AFTER being amended, then it can be voted down at the end. Mr. Siskind, I don't know how you are finding the time to keep this blog updated. You must be swamped with the run up to July 1st and the small window where retrogression will be lifted. I for one greatly appreciate you keeping us all up to date on this confusing and seemingly ever changing bill.