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martes, mayo 22, 2007 Escrito PorAdam J. Segala las04:51 AM | Comentar | Imprimir | Enviar a Correo Will business leaders support new comprehensive immigration reform legislation? Why are Republican presidential candidates bashing each other over amnesty for illegal immigrants and guest worker visas?
The Wall Street Journal has a cover page article this morning, by Miriam Jordan and other Journal staff, on a split among business organizations lobbying for immigration reform; "a divide over the measure among the nation's employers could undermine its chances of becoming law." A separate article today, by WSJ's June Kronholz and Sarah Lueck, reports on the potential liability businesses would face under to new proposed system. There is no doubt this is a complicated issue full of potential roadblocks, yet the media coverage has begun to reflect high uncertainty over this new proposal on immigration reform and border security. The Washington Post's Jonathan Weisman ponders the concern that the plan could be torpedoed from opponents on the right and left in an article this morning. He reports, "The Senate voted last night to move forward on an overhaul of immigration laws, but even proponents of the delicate compromise proposal conceded that the furor over the deal was surpassing their expectations and endangering the plan." His report continues with this gloomy update: "The 69 to 23 vote masked deep troubles from the right flank of the Senate, as well as from the left. Opponents of even conducting a debate on the measure included some unexpected voices, such as freshman Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Bernard Sanders, an independent liberal from Vermont. Several conservatives -- and some liberals -- made it clear that they cast a vote to proceed only in order to fundamentally change the proposed legislation in the coming days. With dozens of amendments planned, traps being laid by opponents could upset the fragile coalition that drafted the measure. What's more, Senate leaders gave up hope last night that they could pass the bill this week, ensuring it will be left hanging over a week-long Memorial Day recess. That will allow the opposition to gather strength before a final vote can be scheduled next month." Senator John McCain told reporters, quite optimistically, he believes immigration legislation could become law this year. In related news, Associated Press reporter Liz Sidoti wrote yesterday on the divide on immigration among Republican presidential candidates. She reports on Senator John McCain's attack on former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's position on the issue -- both are considered front-runners for the GOP nomination. Sidoti writes: "In a conference call with bloggers Monday, McCain took Romney to task for being against the Senate's immigration measure. Romney's campaign dismissed McCain's remarks, saying they showed a candidate on the ropes over a politically volatile issue. McCain, long a backer of a comprehensive immigration overhaul, is a co-sponsor of the measure that would meld stronger border security with a guest-worker program and an eventual path to citizenship for many of the 12 million immigrants in the country illegally. Neither the measure nor McCain's backing of it sits well with hard-line conservatives."
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