Frist to push border fence legislation

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday September 19, 2006

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), believing a broader immigration bill to be endangered, will move to proceed legislation to construct a border fence between the US and Mexico, according to an article at today's Congressional Quarterly.

Writer Michael Sandler describes Frist as being "eager to give embattled Republicans a 'get tough' immigration vote prior to the Nov. 7 elections," thus his planned action to push the already-passed House bill calling for 700 miles of borderline fencing.

Whether Democrats would support the Frist tactic was unclear, according to Sandler, but Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) was quoted as saying, "[T]his is more of the political gamesmanship that we've been seeing on this issue from the very beginning."

Excerpts from the subscription-only article follow...

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A comprehensive Senate immigration bill (S 2611) that would create a temporary guest worker program and offer a path to eventual citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants passed May 25 with the support of 23 Republicans and all but four Senate Democrats. But House Republicans have denounced it and refused to negotiate any legislation that could lead to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States illegally.

Frist, who was among 23 Republicans supporting the broader Senate bill, said Tuesday that he still supports the core principles of that measure. But he sees no chance for an end to the impasse between the House and Senate before Election Day.

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But some Republican senators expressed disappointment with Frist’s decision to move the House fencing bill to the floor as a freestanding measure. Taking that provision, and possibly others, out of the comprehensive package and moving them separately would likely reduce the chances of getting a broad bill enacted, they said.

"I’m opposed to that," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., sponsor of the broad Senate bill. "I don’t see how we can do that. I’m for the fence. But I’m not for the fence piecemeal, which would preclude a comprehensive bill. I’m not for that at all."

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