The man in the hot seat on immigration
The Senate is on the verge of actually passing a big, significant immigration bill today, having reached agreement on procedure, on amendments, and on a "border surge." The
plan, always subject to change in the Senate, is a cloture vote Thursday morning at 11:30 ET, an agreement by everyone to yield back the 30 hours of debate normally necessary for "ripening" after cloture, quickly dispatching with the agreed-to amendments, and moving on to final passage by early afternoon. But it is the Senate, so you might not want to hold your breath that it all happens so smoothly.
Here's the basics of what they're voting on:
At its core, the legislation in the Senate includes numerous steps to prevent future illegal immigration, while at the same time it offers a chance at citizenship to the 11 million immigrants now living in the country unlawfully.
It provides for 20,000 new Border Patrol agents, requires the completion of 700 miles of fencing and requires an array of high-tech devices to be deployed to secure the border with Mexico.
Businesses would be required to check on the legal status of prospective employees. Other provisions would expand the number of visas for highly skilled workers relied upon by the technology industry. A separate program would be established for lower-skilled workers, and farm workers would be admitted under a temporary program.
The sidebar political drama on this vote is Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) dreams of higher office, which seem to be shrinking by the day. In a
defensive, long floor speech Wednesday, Rubio tried to answer his right-wing critics, alternately striking both defiant and apologetic tones. But he has to be watching his chances at winning a Republican presidential primary slowly circle the drain. Today, he's expected to
make it personal by telling his family's story. Sure. That'll work to mollify his irate Tea Party detractors.
9:47 AM PT: They passed the cloture hurdle, 68-32. Now there's wrangling, and lots of complaining, over amendments. And this:
Opponents of #immigration bill back down. Will not take all 30 hours afforded them post cloture. Means debate at 4 pm. Just needs 51 ayes.
— @ChadPergram