Immigration Bills Most Intriguing Developments … So Far

The bill can be printed the report can be printed during the Memorial Day Recess." Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The Senate Judiciary Committee has been gearing up for and has now produced its Grand Finale in marking up a rewrite of nations immigration laws. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said on the Senate Floor Thursday the amended version of the immigration plan drafted by the Gang of 8" Senators will hit the floor as soon as it is ready in June even if that means turning away from the Farm Bill that goes to the floor May 20th.   Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) convened his panel at 10 a.m. this morning and despite warnings of a late night ahead completed work before the Senate departs for the Memorial Day break. Ive been requested to by both Republicans and Democrats if we can have late-night sessions if need be to move this along so that we can complete it" Leahy said Thursday. The bill can be printed the report can be printed during the Memorial Day recess" he added explaining the timeline. I pledge that as soon as it is ready I will bring immigration legislation to the floor in June regardless of whether we have completed action on the farm bill" Reid said. Although immigration is a complex and controversial issue that deserves ample time for thoughtful debate and consideration it is also too important to delay action any longer." Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) thought that the immigration matter wouldnt cause a problem for her bill noting that Leahy is the senior member of the Agriculture panel as well. The Judiciary Committee considered over 100 amendments to the bill before consideration of the bills interior enforcement provisions with ongoing work addressing an assortment of contentious pieces including the number of visas for high-skilled immigrants and whether committed gay couples will be included in the bill. Here are eight intriguing developments from the past week: 1.  E-Verify Changes The Judiciary panel has modified the E-Verify system that would be mandatory under the immigration overhaul.

• On one side Chris Coons (D-DE) secured a change to require that Homeland Security notify people whenever their names get run through E-Verify so they know when their information is being reviewed.
• Grassley also won approval of a change that requires weekly reporting on people who fail such background checks.

2.   Some Will Never Agree The thorough committee process thats included adoption of many Democratic and GOP amendments isnt changing the minds of outside critics a reminder that some people will never be won over within the gang of eight framework.

• As amended this bill virtually assures that Congress will be considering demands for the next amnesty in just a few years" said Roy Beck of NumbersUSA a group that advocates lower immigration levels.
• Thats a statement that bill supporters left right and center would strenuously contest.

3.   Aloha! Theres no shortage of targeted amendments being adopted without too much notice.

• For instance Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) is proving effective in getting amendments through regarding unique circumstances in her home state.
• One would make people from Micronesia Palau and the Marshall Islands living in the U.S. eligible for Medicaid. Another would change rules for crews of fishing vessels.

4.   Health Care Questions A quirk in the bill could give a perverse incentive for employers to hire newly legalized immigrants instead of citizens to avoid health insurance coverage requirements or penalties under the 2010 health care overhaul.

• Top aides and gang of eight member John McCain (R-AZ) have signaled that theyre all looking for a way to resolve that issue.

5.   The Hatch Factor How to deal with high-skilled immigrant visas remains an unresolved question. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) has said that he would need to see changes to that section for the gang of eight senators to have a chance to win his vote.

• Democrats signaled Thursday that they are continuing to try to cut a deal between Durbin and Hatch on such visas with Schumer appearing to serve as something of an intermediary.
• Hatch also wants a guarantee that some amendments such as those regarding back taxes from immigrants who are gaining legal status will win approval as a condition of his support for the package. Thats a bit murkier as the amendments fall within the purview of the Finance Committee where Hatch serves as ranking member.

6.   Sessions Alone Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) found no support for his bid to impose lower limits on legal immigration losing an amendment vote 1-17.

• One of the ways we make the border secure is in improving or streamlining legal immigration and I am a full-throated advocate of legal immigration" said Sen. Ted Cruz R-Texas of that amendment before he voted against it.

7.   Luck of the Irish Irish immigrants have plenty of support on the Judiciary panel.

• When Grassley sought to provide a two-year sunset for a visa program benefiting Irish immigrants he was quickly rebuffed by Democrats including gang of eight Sens. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois & Charles E. Schumer of New York.
• We share much more in common than people would think. For instance we are the only two Charles E.s in the Senate the only two Chucks in the Senate. There used to be four: Robb and Hagel but now its just you and me" Schumer said to Grassley.

8.  Beef With South Korea Ranking member Charles E. Grassley R-Iowa made a bid to use the immigration bill as the venue to criticize South Koreas restrictions on importing U.S. beef.

• He offered an amendment on Tuesday that would have blocked South Korean citizens from getting certain U.S. visas until the country lifts beef import restrictions. That fell on a voice vote.