Immigration bill up for vote
The Senate is expected today to vote on an immigration bill. If it passes it could loosen restrictions on employment laws. It could also slam the door shut on amnesty. But that's all riding on a big "if," Rachel Dornhelm reports.
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Lisa Napoli: After some delay, a Senate vote on the immigration bill is scheduled for today. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Rachel Dornhelm: The bill has opponents on both sides of the aisle, so the amendments that could sink the whole thing are coming out of both parties.
Controversial proposals from Democrats include provisions for family reunification and more forgiving employment laws.
Meanwhile, Republican opponents have floated changes that include tougher enforcement of immigration law, says political science professor Rey Koslowski.
Rey Koslowski: The one that really sticks out is one that would essentially bar illegal immigrants from getting legal status. And this is in a sense to head off the amnesty — the “A word” as it’s sometimes referred to.
But observers say some senators may vote for the bill regardless of the amendments, just to keep the legislation alive.
No matter what happens today, nothing would be set in stone, because the bill needs to pass two more hurdles — the House and a compromise session between the two bodies.
I’m Rachel Dornhelm for Marketplace.