Senate votes to debate immigration reform

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

President Barack Obama tried Tuesday to build momentum for an immigration reform bill that later passed a key Senate hurdle, saying the measure was a commonsense approach to fix a broken system that has allowed 11 million people to live illegally in America.

At a White House event a few hours before the Senate voted to debate the plan, Obama emphasized that it would increase spending on border security and require undocumented immigrants to pursue what he called an "arduous" path to eventual citizenship.

"You have to pass background checks, you have to learn English, you have to pay taxes and a penalty and then you have to go to the back of the line behind everybody who has done things the right way and have tried to come here legally," Obama said in addressing a major complaint by Republican opponents who call the reform measure an amnesty.

...snip...

The final tally was 82-15, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that some Republicans had no intention of supporting the measure even though they supported opening the formal debate.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/11/politics/immigration-senate/index.html

---

No doubt, we can look for some entertaining speeches from Ted Cruz...

[azurnoir]

1. of course the Republicans do not support the immigration bill

that's why they want the debate-so they can air their 'views' in front of the public en-mass

[cosmicone]

2. Republicans have been utterly stupid.

After the pounding they took from latino voters in November, they should have seized the momentum and become pro-immigration reform immediately, taking the issue away from President Obama and acting like they're the champions of the latino cause.

Unfortunately (fortunately for us), they cannot overcome the insidious racism and xenophobia that their hearts harbor.

[savalez]

3. This is going to be good.

Which repuke rep is gonna make biggest ass of himself?

[markiv]

4. this bill will help the labor shortage

with the big increase in guest worker visas

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Trying to take the spotlight off the

out of control "Patriot Act"