Wednesday, June 06, 2007

5:15 Senator Sessions Discusses The EITC Senator Sessions was on the floor discussing the Earned Income Tax Credit. He said that this credit is provided to people who work in low-wage jobs to encourage work. Senator Sessions said that analysis has shown that the majority of the 12 million illegal immigrants in this country work in low-wage jobs. He said that this program is intended for American citizens and that the Immigration Reform Bill will ultimately allow for illegal immigrants to get the tax credit. Senator Sessions argued that this would be a very costly oversight in the bill. 5:23:44 PM

4:00 Debate Continues On Immigration Bill Debate on S.1348, the Immigration Reform Bill, continues on the floor. At 6:45 p.m. a series of stacked roll call votes are expected. 3:58:16 PM

2:45 Amendment Not Agreed To The Bingaman amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 41-57. 2:50:28 PM

2:35 Vote In Progress There is currently a roll call vote in progress on the Bingaman amendment. The amendment would allow Y visa holders to renew their visa without leaving the country and would allow Y-1 visa holders with families to be in the country for two years as opposed to three years. 2:36:37 PM

2:30 DeMint Amendment Not Agreed To The DeMint amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 43-55. 2:28:44 PM

2:05 Roll Call Vote In Progress There is currently a roll call vote in progress on an amendment offered by Senator DeMint. The amendment would require the Z visa holder to maintain a minimum level of health insurance to maintain legal immigration status. The minimum level would be a high deductible health plan of at least $1,000 for single coverage. 2:07:02 PM

1:10 Upcoming Roll Call Votes There are two roll call votes expected around 2:00 p.m. The votes will be on amendments offered by Senator DeMint and Senator Bingaman. 1:07:16 PM

12:50 Cornyn Amendment Fails The Cornyn amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 46-51. 12:55:16 PM

12:25 Roll Call Vote In Progress There is currently a roll call vote in progress on the Cornyn amendment. 12:26:43 PM

12:20 Kennedy Amendment Agreed To The Kennedy amendment was agreed to by a vote of 66-32. 12:23:18 PM

11:55 Two Stacked Votes The first of two stacked roll call votes is currently in progress. This vote is on the Kennedy amendment, the second vote will be on the Cornyn amendment. 11:56:29 AM

10:40 Senator Kennedy Discusses Cornyn Amendment Senator Kennedy was on the floor discussing the Cornyn amendment. He argued that his alternative amendment includes all the provisions that Senator Cornyn's amendment offers. Senator Kennedy said that his amendment prohibits gang members from enetering or staying in this country. He said that his amendment bars sex offenders, people convicted of domestic violence, and drunk drivers from being allowed to enter or stay in the country. Senator Kennedy suggested that the distinction between his amendment and Senator Cornyn's is that his proposal provides a way for people to atone for the offense of entering the U.S. illegally to work. He said that criminals and terrorists will and should be arrested but that people who only came to this country to build a better life should not be included in this category. 10:58:58 AM

10:30 Senator Cornyn Discusses Amendment Senator Cornyn was on the floor discussing his amendment to the Immigration Reform Bill. He said that while he is grateful that his amendment will be considered this morning, he noted that he first offered the amendment two weeks ago and is discouraged by the progress of getting amendments debated and voted on. Senator Cornyn said that his goal is to restore law and order to the immigration system and that fixing the immigration system is critical to our national security. He argued that a broken system which allows economic migrants to cross our borders illegally also allows for common criminals and terrorists to enter this country illegally. The amendment he offered would mandate that gang members cannot obtain legal status, arguing that Congress should draw a line about who we are willing to allow entry and who we are not. 10:42:58 AM

10:00 Senate Convenes The Senate has convened and debate is continuing on S.1348, the Immigration Reform Bill. There are two roll call votes expected around 11:30 a.m. on an amendment offered by Senator Cornyn and an alternative amendment by Senator Kennedy. 10:07:12 AM