Here is one story at The Hill. Few changes were made that would make the bill more acceptable to most Americans. (I’m working on a magazine article today and have little time to post unfortunately, but you will see lots of coverage elsewhere of the not-unexpected setback for America).
Five Republicans voted against S.744 (The Gang of Eight plus Grover bill). Those heroes are Senators Chuck Grassley, Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee.
Voting with the Democrats were Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake and Orrin Hatch. Here is the list of all committee members. Final vote was 13-5.
As the bill was voted on the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (one of nine major federal refugee contractors) tweeted:
And the bill moves to Senate floor – room erupts with “yes we can!” and “si, se puede”! We just live-tweeted history
Yesterday I was surprised to see that Bill Kristol, usually a supporter of supposed immigration reform, urged Senator Marco Rubio to abandon this monstrosity and “walk away.” Frankly, if Rubio sticks with this bill on the Senate floor his political future as a Presidential candidate will be over, especially as the Tea Party re-emerges as a political counterweight to the “ruling class” Republicans. Watch out for ‘ruling class’ extraordinaire Speaker John Boehner in the House going forward! He is showing signs of squishing out!
The Weekly Standard editor told Ingraham that Rubio — who Kristol said he considers “a friend” — should step away from the “big government bill.” Instead, immigration reform should be dealt with issue-by-issue rather than by one comprehensive piece of “bad legislation,” Kristol said.
Our view too! S.744 expands refugee and asylum law without increasing the security issues that the Boston Bombers exposed.
We are among a distinguished group!
Go here and see the letter (opposing S. 744 as it goes to the Senate floor) to which we, Refugee Resettlement Watch, are a proud signator. Be sure to scroll down to see all the Tea Party groups which have signed. So, the next time you see mention of Tea Partiers supporting so-called “immigration reform” consider that Grover (Norquist) and gang are putting out that misinformation.
Photo is from the Politico story.