Immigration Update

Today has been a huge day for immigration reform (and the debate continues). The bill almost died after a test vote failed earlier this morning in the Senate (see results below). All Republicans voted against cloture (test vote, remember you need 60 votes to get cloture). Republicans say their amendments are not being heard and do not want to rush through the bill. Leader Reid (D-NV) said he will try again today to have a test vote to move the bill forward.

The second test vote will occur any second now on the House floor. If this vote does not pass Majority Leader Reid will likely pull the bill and move on to other legislation. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is very opposed the ending of the debate.

Some articles to help you understand what is going on:

• Immigration Bill Fails Test Vote
• Reid: 'This is the President's bill; this is not a Democratic bill'...

ENGLISH ONLY:
I know a number of you are following the English language aspects of the Immigration Bill so I wanted to update you on two key votes that were passed:

• Salazar amendment #1384 (enhance the role of the English language) was agreed to: 58-39
• Inhofe amendment #1151 (English as an official language) was agreed to: 64-33

REVIEW OF WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday the Senate resumed consideration of the bill. At 11:00 am there will be 2 stacked votes. The first vote will be on Coburn #1311 (enforcement) and the second vote will be on cloture on the Kennedy/Specter substitute amendment #1150.

Amendments adopted by voice vote on Wednesday (4)

• Lieberman #1191 (detention standards)
• Thomas #1182 (Custom Patrol Officers)
• Schumer #1272 (B-1 visa guidelines)
• Hutchison #1415 (Social Security)

Roll Call Votes on Wednesday (16)

• Kennedy #1333 (criminals) was agreed to 66-32
• Cornyn #1184 (ciminals) was defeated 46-51
• DeMint #1197 (health coverage for Z visa holders) was defeated 43-55
• Bingaman #1267 (remove requirement Y-1 visa holders leave the US before they are able to renew their visa) was defeated 41-57
• Cornyn #1250 (mandatory disclosure of information) was agreed to 57-39
• Reid #1331 (earned income tax credit) was agreed to 57-40
• Sessions #1234 (earned income tax credit) was agreed 56-41
• Menendez #1194 (family backlog deadlines) was defeated 53-44 {needed 60 votes to pass}
• Kyl #1460 (family backlogs) was agreed to 51-45
• Clinton #1183 (reclassify spouses and minors) was defeated 44-53
• Ensign #1374 (improve merit based system) was defeated 42-55
• Salazar #1384 (English) was agreed to 58-39
• Inhofe #1151 (English) was agreed to 64-33
• Vitter #1339 (US Visit System) was defeated 48-49
• Obama #1202 (date for termination of merit based system) was defeated 42-55
• Dorgan # 1316 (sunset Y-1 visa program) was agreed to 49-48

Pending amendments (3)

• Sessions #1235 (5 yr limitation on claiming earned income tax credit)
• Dodd #1199 (green cards for parents of US Citizens)
• Coburn #1311 (enforcement)