Bush Vows Immigration Bill Will Be Signed

SOFIA Bulgaria - President Bush turning from adulation in the Balkans to difficulties back home said Monday that his stalled immigration overhaul would be revived and his embattled attorney general would not fall under a Senate vote of no-confidence.

“I believe we can get it done” Bush said of the immigration bill that has run into deep trouble on Capitol Hill. “I’ll see you at the bill signing.”

Warmly welcomed in both Bulgaria and Albania the president spoke at a news conference with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on the last stop of his eight-day trip in Europe. Bush said he would make a trip to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby lawmakers in person on immigration.

He dismissed a planned Senate vote against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as purely political and said it would have “no bearing” on Gonzales’ fate. “I’ll make the determination as to whether he’s effective” Bush said.

The no-confidence vote follows months of investigations and the disclosure of internal Justice Department documents that contradicted Gonzales’ initial assertions that the firing of federal prosecutors was not politically motivated or directly coordinated with the White House.

“They can have their votes of no-confidence but it’s not going to make the determination about who serves in my government” Bush said.

Warm welcome in the Balkans
Sofia is the president’s last stop on his trip which also took him to the Czech Republic Poland Germany Italy and Albania.

On a sunny cool morning thousands of Bulgarians lined the cobblestoned main street through Nevsky Square as an honor guard played both countries’ national anthems.

Bush and Parvanov walked past a line of Bulgarian troops wearing white coats trimmed in red and navy pants tucked into high black boots. After watching troops goose-stepping to upbeat military music Bush prayed before a wreath at an eternal flame that marks Bulgaria’s tomb of the unknown soldier.

Afterward Bush greeted Bulgarian soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Bulgarian parliament recently extended the Iraq mission until March 2008 and last year Bulgaria signed an agreement with Washington allowing U.S. troops to use Bulgarian military facilities.

Bush then worked the crowd reaching in to shake hands as the locals beamed and cheered. In contrast to thousands of anti-Bush protests at earlier stops Bush seemed to bask in the affectionate attention he received here and even more enthusiastically in Albania the day before.

“I call him George and he calls me George” Bush joked about he and Parvanov share the same first name.