May 15, 2007
Senate Lunch Chatter: The I's Have It
Immigration and Iraq once again dominated the chatter in the halls outside the Senate's party policy luncheons today.
On immigration, lead Democratic negotiator Edward Kennedy said that tomorrow would be "D-Day" for those hoping to strike a compromise. "We're still not there," Kennedy said. Several senators pointed to a 3 p.m. meeting this afternoon as crucial to a potential deal. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said the big sticking points were on family reunification, temporary workers and due-process considerations.
On Iraq, John Warner, R-Va., said he is pushing a proposal with GOP support that would call for an independent assessment of Iraqi security forces' capabilities and a July interim report on progress from Gen. David Petraeus, rather than the September report the top U.S. commander in Iraq has promised.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said at the microphones that Republicans still must pick two amendments on the war to propose later this week. Majority Leader Harry Reid has settled on two Democratic amendments on Iraq: one by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., to force a drawdown of troops by April, the other by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., giving the president the ability to waive troop-withdrawal timelines.
Senators also offered various words of sympathy to the family of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died earlier today.
Posted at 2:45 PM
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Immigration, Iraq, Middle East, Senate
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