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Senate negotiators of a broad immigration bill have all but scrapped the idea of an emergency supplemental appropriations bill for border security in favor of an amendment to the bill that would provide $4.4 billion in mandatory funds immediately upon enactment.

Republicans outside the negotiating team are saying they would prefer the supplemental.

"I would like the emergency supplemental because I think that shows a strong commitment, and if the bill takes a longer time, which it well could, the emergency supplemental could be begun quicker. I think a show of commitment like that would be really encouraging to the American people," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, one of the Republicans being wooed to support the bipartisan compromise.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who, with Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., requested an emergency supplemental earlier in the week, said he has not yet discussed with the immigration negotiators the idea of mandatory spending for border security in the bill.

"I really stick with what Saxby and I said in the letter that the confidence level requires an emergency supplemental that appropriates the money," Isakson said. "If it's decoupled from any perceived trade-off for something else, then people don't think it's the real deal."

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl of Arizona hinted that an emergency supplemental spending bill is not off the table, noting that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., could act on his own while negotiations continue on floor strategy. "The leader might decide to take care of the funding issue itself," he said.

Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., joined negotiators in a meeting Thursday morning to discuss floor strategy. Kyl said Durbin and other leadership staff are working to fit a second immigration debate into the floor schedule.

"Those of us who are interested in getting the bill passed are working to present to the leaders what they need to call the bill up and get it done before the Fourth of July," Kyl said.

Schumer is interested in tinkering with provisions in the bill dealing with employment verification and Social Security cards, Kyl said. The list of amendments that would require floor votes is more or less settled, according to Kyl, but negotiators are attempting to resolve individual senators' concerns before the floor debate to make it easier for Reid to schedule it.

"There are a certain number of amendments that members have a right to offer, and they're going to offer their amendments, and those are going to get resolved," Kyl said. "On other things, if we can work it out, it'll just make it a lot easier to get to a final vote on the bill."

COMMENTS

• I have no argument that implementaion of a new Immigration policy will cost a lot of money. And, the sooner it is funded, the better. We must do something different than what we are doing currently. First, secure the border. Second, establish a system to Identify the alien workforce. Third, make employers responsible for hiring only legal workers, including issuing stif fines or payment of a legalization fee (say $2K - $4K per worker) for noncompliance. Fourth, limit time alien workers can spend in country without return to their country and renewal of alien work visa. Fifth, limit the number of the alien workforce by deporting those who do not meet health and security background checks and gradually the number of work visas allowed, starting with a large number and reducing that number each year until it reaches an acceptable level; thus encouraging aliens to go through proper channels for legal US citizenship. If we collect $2K to $4K for each currently illegal worker from employers or individuals, and use that to fund border security and work the increased visa/immigration activities, it will be more than enough funding ($10B to $20B per year). Robert Breeden Posted June 20, 2007 10:01 AM
• The idea that illegal immigrants are going to pay their way into this country is pure vapor. Whatever the bill says won't happen with liberals out there willing to excuse the debt at a later time. The majority of Americans don't want to reward illegal immigrants for entering this country illegally and they will never be expected to pay anything. Most want a disciplined approach toward citizenship which is highly selective in nature. Skills we need to strengthen this nation is who we should be accepting as new citizens. Secure the borders first, then we can deal with who is deported and who stays under what conditions. Regarding children born of illegal immigrants...they shouldn't be granted citizenship because the parents that bore them were here illegally which should negate that citizenship. Deport all of them and place them at the back of the line. James C. Bash Posted June 15, 2007 2:46 PM
• I am against any bill that give legal status to anyone that has come into the United States illegally. It doesn't matter where they immigrated from. We beed a strong fence on the border for starts. In my opinion, if we have strong sanctions against the employers hiring illegals, remove all benefits, such as welfare, food stamps. medical, free educatiosn, etc. the illegals will quickly start returning to their home countries. We must stop rewarding illegal immigration. We already have a guest worker program. If we enforce our current laws we wouldn't need more insane bills. Georgiana Poland Posted June 15, 2007 1:13 PM