Hastert Deals Blow to Immigration Bill

[jefferson_dem]

Hastert Deals Blow to Immigration Bill
By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON

Hopes for a quick compromise on immigration were dealt a blow Tuesday after House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he wanted to take a "long look" at a Senate bill offering possible citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Hastert said hearings on the Senate bill should be held before appointing anyone to a House-Senate committee to negotiate a compromise immigration bill. Later, he said he was unsure what the House's next move would be.

"We're going to take a long look at it," Hastert said late Tuesday.

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Sending a bill that has already passed the Senate to hearings would be a highly unusual move and make completing a final bill before Congress goes on its summer recess in August far less likely. Disagreement on procedural issue has kept negotiations from starting, but there were hopes that could be resolved this week.

"It's an obvious retreat from where we are," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

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http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/13/D8I7L2180.html

[BlueStateModerate]

1. I hate to say it...

I'm close in position to Hastert than I am to Reid on this issue. Reid is really showing himself as a corporate whore. Wow, I don't believe I'm saying this, but... go Hastert!

Bleh, I need to go take a shower.

[CityDem]

8. No amnesty

I am in agreement with Hastert and disagree with the corporate whores in the senate. This is all about cheap labor for the corporate masters and it needs to be defeated. Pay our citizens a living wage and we will not need the foreign workers. Say no to comprehensive immigration reform.

[Minnesota Libra]

2. This is unreal, a neocon making sense for once?? WOW nt

[AzDar]

3. Good. It's TERRIBLE legislation.... n/t

[High Plains]

4. Better the Senate bill than the House bill.

The Senate bill at least tries to deal with the issue instead of just making 12 million people instant felons like the House bill does.

But I predict we'll end with nothing at year's end. No agreement, no bill.

[lovuian]

5. The House of Reps have to get relected and if they want a job

they better NOT pass this legislation!!!

and thats a reality check for the Senate...

[Gman]

6. This was going way too fast

gotta slow it down or immigration's a dead issue in November. They want it very much alive.

[bluestateguy]

7. Cheap labor conservatives are dealt a blow

This is a bad bill and should be defeated. Gramted, my motives are different than those of Tom Tancredo, but I still want the bill defeated.

[High Plains]

9. So are millions of undocumented workers and their families...

...who would have a chance to work legally, with rights, pay taxes, and integrate into American society. Let's not talk about them; let's talk about "cheap labor conservatives" instead.

[sandnsea]

10. Here's the stupid part

The only way those workers can exercise their rights and stop the cheap labor exploitation is with legal status. The ones who oppose legal status are actually playing right into what cheap labor corporations want, to continue the status quo, or worse, create a revolving door plan that guarantees an endless supply of intimidated guest workers to be exploited.