GOP Kickstarts the Political Nonsense.

The news today from Capitol Hill was encouraging. The immigration reform bill that was very near death was resuscitated with a Senate vote of 64-35 in favor of reopening debate on the bill. Proponents of the bill were prepared to call for a vote on a series of amendments which would lay the ground work for an up-down vote on the entire legislative package. Fortunately, the GOP, armed with the Senate rules and intending to delay a vote, insisted that the entire 373 page legislation package be read aloud. The delay tactic was successful and the vote was postponed until tomorrow. It is truly amazing that our legislature is not able to accomplish more with such sensible and efficient rules--they are worth every penny.

So the opponents of the bill delayed a vote on the amendments for a day or so, but what are the amendments all about? The amendment likely to be considered first will be a proposal by Sen. Kay Baily Hutchinson, R-Texas, to require all adult immigrants to return home before gaining permanent lawful status. (The requirement would be limited to heads of household.) The amendment is criticized by many as being simple-minded and punitive. After all, what sense would it make to require the bread-maker o the family to return home and leave his or her family behind to struggle to make ends meet. I'm sure it looks good on paper though...and Sen. Hutchinson looks really tough on illegal immigration--and that's what is really important here. If our goal is to inflict suffering upon immigrant families and sign up more people to the welfare rolls I think Sen. Hutchinson is wise beyond her years.

Other amendments include proposals that would give continued preference to family members of U.S. Citizens and lawful permanent residents. These amendments are less controversial but support is equally divided.

Let's hope our appointed representatives can take a moment, step outside the beltway and get a little prospective on this so the right decision can be made for America.