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AMNESTY AGAIN BILL COMING THIS WEEK!

From NUMBERSUSA.com

Congressional Immigration Action Center
Immigration Battle in Congress

Kennedy Readying Action on Senate Amnesty Bill

(February 23, 2007) The Washington Times this week reported that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) plans to introduce an amnesty bill as early as the week of March 6, that includes an easier citizenship path for illegal aliens and weaker enforcement provisions than were in S. 2611, the Senate-passed bill from last year. The bill could be ready for floor action in April if the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it will be first considered, finishes work on the bill quickly.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) will begin hearings on the topic of “comprehensive immigration reform” on February 28, although Kennedy’s bill will not be marked up at that point. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez have been invited to discuss the President’s “commitment to comprehensive immigration reform” at the hearing.
(Click here to read the article.)

Reportedly, Sen. Kennedy had help drafting the bill from Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and outside lobbyists including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC). According to Senate staffers contacted by the Times, these outside groups took a leading role in drafting provisions concerning worksite enforcement, according to Senate staffers questioned by the Times. The newspaper obtained internal emails that listed the following groups as other “key stakeholders” in workplace enforcement discussions:

American Civil Liberties Union
National Immigration Law Center
National Council of La Raza
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
The Times also noted that, other than Sen. McCain, Republican senators friendly to last year’s “comprehensive” bill were excluded from initial discussions. However, some of those Senators — including Sam Brownback (R-KS), former Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Republican National Committee Chairman Mel Martinez — reportedly were briefed on the nearly-completed draft during the week of February 12.

“Who has been in and out of negotiations this year signals to Republicans that Mr. Kennedy will introduce a bill that more resembles the original McCain-Kennedy bill than the compromise that was ultimately approved last year,” the Times reported.