Legislative Link
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Frist says reform "next to impossible"
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Assistant Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke to the press on Wednesday about the Senate agenda for the remainder of the Congressional session (To watch the briefing yourself on C-SPAN with RealPlayer, click here and then click on the hearing at the top of the page). As expected it was a highly partisan briefing about the fight against terrorism. During the question and answer session, however, Frist answered questions about the possibility of comprehensive reform being passed. He discussed the issue in terms of national security and the need to secure the nation's borders.
Frist also told reporters this week: "I think it would be next to impossible to pass a comprehensive bill that includes dealing with the diversity of 12 million people here in the next three weeks." He did say that he anticipated Congress passing appropriation bills that will include spending to bolster border security.
Reuters News Service reported that Frist's comments drew an angry response from Sen. Edward Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts):" How can Republicans say they are for making America safer when they can't even pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill to protect our borders? They are so divided over immigration that it will take leadership from the president to break the impasse.''
On Thursday, immigrant rights advocates are rallying in Washington, DC in the hopes of dislodging the political logjam that has held up further work on immigration reform. C-SPAN3 will air the rallies live on-line.
ACTION STEP: Call Senator Frist (202.224.3344) and ask him to exert his leadership to move forward immigration reform that recognizes the human rights of all immigrants and their families. Ask him to refrain from using immigration reform and border security as election tactics and to make a concerted effort to understand the complexity of the issue.
|
 |
Search site
Sara Ibrahim
Human Migration and Mobility/Project VOICE Policy Impact Coordinator
SIbrahim@afsc.org
Atom Feed
Recent Posts
Main page
Congress back in session: Now what?
Final performances: Dubuque, Iowa and Greeley, Col...
"The environment for the majority party is extreme...
More hearings in MT, IN & CO
Texas takes the stage
Sensenbrenner: Hearings meant "to get input from l...
Chertoff claims success but no victory yet
Budgets "stick a fork in it"
Another week of "hearings"
More deaths at the border while Congress dithers
Earlier Posts
Week of... March 26, 2006
April 02, 2006
April 09, 2006
April 16, 2006
April 23, 2006
April 30, 2006
May 07, 2006
May 14, 2006
May 21, 2006
May 28, 2006
June 04, 2006
June 11, 2006
June 18, 2006
June 25, 2006
July 02, 2006
July 09, 2006
July 16, 2006
July 23, 2006
July 30, 2006
August 06, 2006
August 13, 2006
August 20, 2006
August 27, 2006
September 03, 2006
September 10, 2006
September 17, 2006
September 24, 2006
October 01, 2006
October 08, 2006
October 15, 2006
October 22, 2006
October 29, 2006
November 05, 2006
November 12, 2006
November 19, 2006
November 26, 2006
December 03, 2006
December 10, 2006
December 17, 2006
December 24, 2006
January 07, 2007
February 04, 2007
February 25, 2007
March 04, 2007
March 18, 2007
March 25, 2007
April 22, 2007
April 29, 2007
May 06, 2007
May 13, 2007
May 20, 2007
May 27, 2007
June 03, 2007
June 10, 2007
June 17, 2007
June 24, 2007
July 15, 2007
July 22, 2007
July 29, 2007
August 05, 2007
August 12, 2007
August 19, 2007
August 26, 2007
September 09, 2007
September 23, 2007
September 30, 2007
October 07, 2007
October 14, 2007
October 21, 2007
October 28, 2007
November 04, 2007
November 11, 2007
November 18, 2007
November 25, 2007
December 02, 2007
December 09, 2007
December 16, 2007
December 30, 2007
January 06, 2008
January 13, 2008
January 20, 2008
January 27, 2008
February 17, 2008
February 24, 2008
March 09, 2008
March 16, 2008
March 23, 2008
March 30, 2008
April 13, 2008
April 27, 2008
May 25, 2008
June 01, 2008
June 15, 2008
June 22, 2008
June 29, 2008
|
Email this page
^ Top of page