Senate Majority Which Dick Durbin revealed Sunday that the Senate has been working on an immigration reform package, including a pathway to citizenship for illegal immgirants.
In the past, Republicans have shied away from immigration reform, especially that which involves legalizing the illegal immigrants, but this time this package is receiving bipartisan support. The legislation does have a section on tightening border security, in addition to a legalization process, something the Republicans actively campaigned for.
A key leader in the whole process is Senator John McCain, who believes that the 2012 election was a reflection on the Republican Party's losing ideologies. "We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which I think should be ours for a variety of reasons, and we've got to understand that," he says. Senator McCain was also a notable player in a 2007 effort towards immigration reform. He also believes that the bill now isn't too different from that which he tried for in 2007, this time, it just has a lot more bipartisan support.
This Tuesday President Obama will be giving a speech in Las Vegas regarding the bill, which is expected to be completed by late March or early April. More details on this bill are expected at the State of the Union Address.
Immigration reform is a hot topic for everyone. Obama did refer to it as a top priority during his second term, and as Senator Robert Mendez puts it "First of all, Americans support it...Secondly, Latino voters expect it. Thirdly, Democrats want it. And fourth, Republicans need it." (As reported by this CNN article here).
The public has been largely in support of immigration reform. NBC reports that polls show four out of five Americans support a pathway to citizenship. Proponents of immigration reform also agree that this is a step in the right direction from the White House.
The six senators working on the bill are Republicans Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, John McCain, and Democrats Chuck Schumer, Robert Mendez and Dick Durbin.
While the proposal is not yet near finished, and more at the talking points stage than legislative stage, there is much optimism that the bill will go through. President Obama has worked actively on the issue, and has pushed for this legislation. With support from both sides, especially by combining major components of what both sides wanted, America can remain optimistic about the eventual turnout.
Read more on the issue (along with articles linked above) both here and here.
Is this a sign that Republican ideologies are shifting? Even though it's early in the game, is this bill likely to go through or will opposition build up?
In the past, Republicans have shied away from immigration reform, especially that which involves legalizing the illegal immigrants, but this time this package is receiving bipartisan support. The legislation does have a section on tightening border security, in addition to a legalization process, something the Republicans actively campaigned for.
A key leader in the whole process is Senator John McCain, who believes that the 2012 election was a reflection on the Republican Party's losing ideologies. "We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which I think should be ours for a variety of reasons, and we've got to understand that," he says. Senator McCain was also a notable player in a 2007 effort towards immigration reform. He also believes that the bill now isn't too different from that which he tried for in 2007, this time, it just has a lot more bipartisan support.This Tuesday President Obama will be giving a speech in Las Vegas regarding the bill, which is expected to be completed by late March or early April. More details on this bill are expected at the State of the Union Address.
Immigration reform is a hot topic for everyone. Obama did refer to it as a top priority during his second term, and as Senator Robert Mendez puts it "First of all, Americans support it...Secondly, Latino voters expect it. Thirdly, Democrats want it. And fourth, Republicans need it." (As reported by this CNN article here).
The public has been largely in support of immigration reform. NBC reports that polls show four out of five Americans support a pathway to citizenship. Proponents of immigration reform also agree that this is a step in the right direction from the White House.
The six senators working on the bill are Republicans Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, John McCain, and Democrats Chuck Schumer, Robert Mendez and Dick Durbin.
While the proposal is not yet near finished, and more at the talking points stage than legislative stage, there is much optimism that the bill will go through. President Obama has worked actively on the issue, and has pushed for this legislation. With support from both sides, especially by combining major components of what both sides wanted, America can remain optimistic about the eventual turnout.
Read more on the issue (along with articles linked above) both here and here.
Is this a sign that Republican ideologies are shifting? Even though it's early in the game, is this bill likely to go through or will opposition build up?
2 comments:
Party gridlock has characterized Congress for so long that such teamwork is actually surprising, yet nonetheless refreshing. Perhaps this bill is a sign that the Republican Party is actually serious about adjusting its platform. With their ominously foreboding loss in recent presidential election, the Republican Party needs to change, and quickly if I might add. Regardless, and at the very least, this bill is a sign that Republicans and Democrats in Congress are FINALLY willing to compromise. Hopefully we will see more of this to come.
I believe that this is a step in the right direction for Congress because it seems like it has been a while since any actual immigration reform has been attempted. While I don't think conservative Republicans are going to pass this bill, at least it's a step in the right direction towards, like Brandon said, bipartisan work. It seems too early to tell if Republicans are going to change their entire platform on immigration because it is a core belief that they hold, but some changes do seem inevitable.
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