cyberdude611
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The Senate failed for a 2nd time to invoke cloture on the very controversal Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill on Thursday. First vote of cloture failed 33-63. After meeting with Senate Democrats, Majority leader Harry Reid called for a second vote which again failed 45-50. Under the Senate rules, 60 votes are required to invoke cloture. Cloture is a procedural vote that ends debate and sends the bill to final passage. Without cloture, the bill cannot move out of the debate stage. It either is pulled from the floor, eventually cloture will pass, or may be subject to a filibuster. Harry Reid opted to pull the bill from the floor but promises to bring the matter back up later in the year.
Most Republicans and a handful of Democrats (including independant Senator Bernie Sanders) voted against cloture because they did not feel the bill was adequate. The few Democrats that voted against the bill felt that it would take jobs away from American workers and also would break up immigrant families. Republicans, which recieved massive blowback from the conservative base, voted against cloture because they say the bill does not concentrate enough on border security and divisions in the party concerning the legalization of 12 million illegal aliens.
Even though Reid says he will bring the bill back, it's chances of passing are slim at this stage. 15 votes short of cloture is a lot of ground to make up in the face of such strong liberal and conservative opposition. And all this is before it even gets to the House of Representatives where it is also expected to recieve massive opposition and a procedural mindfield, if the bill ever gets there.
What may have ultimately killed the deal was an amendment by Sen Durgan that would "sunset" the guest worker program in 5 years. (which means it ends the program unless renewed by congress). That amendment passed by 1 vote and killed one of the big parts of the so-called "Grand Compromise."
Also after Sen Cornyn's amendment failed, which called for deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records, Senator Jim DeMint said "It's time to scrap this mess of a bill."
The bill was a major part of President Bush's domestic agenda he set for the final 19 months he has left of his term of office. Bush had hoped to make the bill part of his legacy which is now being haunted by the failings of the Iraq war. Not only does Thursday's votes show what little influence the President has over the Senate, but it shows how much influence he has lost with his own party as all but 7 GOP senators voted against his bill.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070608/D8PKD2HO0.html
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Immigration bill now on "life-support" - 
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