June 11, 2007
Bush Seeks To Round Up Republicans On Immigration Plan
Like many Americans this summer, President Bush will return to Washington tonight wishing he was back on vacation. (It wasn't technically a vacation, but Albania made sure it felt like one.)
But there will be no break for Bush, not so long as the Senate remains at a standstill on immigration reform. Speaking to reporters in Sofia, Bulgaria, earlier today, Bush said he has spoken with top Republicans on the compromise bill, and will venture up to the Hill tomorrow to persuade lawmakers to give the bill one more shot.
"Listen, a lot of progress was made between people in both parties making hard decisions necessary to move a comprehensive plan. It's in the nation's interest to get a comprehensive bill done. The political process sometimes isn't pretty to look at it," Bush said, having noted with criticism that senators today are voting on a technically meaningless no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Fortunately for Bush, the political winds are at his back on the immigration issue. Most newspapers have come down hard on lawmakers who opposed passage of the "grand bargain" proposal. John McCain, one of main backers of the compromise, has taken his line that the lack of a bill is "de facto amnesty" out on the campaign trail.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has made it clear to Bush that he will have to round up support from GOP holdouts before Reid brings the bill back to the floor.
"Only seven Republicans joined 38 Democrats in voting to bring debate on the bill to a close in a timely manner," Reid told Bush in a letter today. "We believe it will take stronger leadership by you to ensure that opponents of the bill do not block the path to final passage. Simply put, we need many more than seven Republicans to vote for cloture and final passage of this bill."
The formidable task before Bush brings to mind the title of Trent Lott's memoir, "Herding Cats." For now, Bush is expressing confidence that he will bring more Republicans on board with the bill -- probably by convincing them that a worse political price will be paid for no bill at all.
"I believe we can get it done. I'll see you at the bill signing," Bush said at the press conference today.
Posted at 4:33 PM
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Bush Administration, Congress, Immigration, President Bush, Senate
