Friday, May 19, 2006
Senate Votes on Immigration Bill
I've already stated my basic views on the pending Senate Bill S2611, C0mprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (CIRA). This post provides a record of voting on the more important (my selection) amendments and motions to table ( i.e. to reject an amendment). It also record the votes of our two Pennsylvania Senators, Specter and Santorum, who are voting rather differently on this issue. Senator Specter is a Sponsor of the bill, having sheparded it through his Judiciary committee.
The information ( and votes of other senators) can be found at U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes . You can also link from that site to all the bill data and text. The list starts with the first roll call vote and will be updated. (My personal interpretations are included parenthetically.)
Vote 121, 16May06 : "To prohibit the granting of legal status, or adjustment of current status, to any individual who enters or entered the United States in violation of Federal law unless the border security measures authorized under Title I and section 233 are fully completed and fully operational." ( This would require securing the border first, before granting amnesty (adjusting status) to illegal immigrants.) Result - Failed by 55 to 40 votes; Specter voted against it ; Santorum for it.
Vote 122, 16May06 : "To prohibit implementation of title IV and title VI until the President determines that implementation of such titles will strengthen the national security of the United States." ( A face-saver to allow those who voted Nay on 121 above to show they voted for a "national security" interest. The President has already made that determination in his speech.) Result - Passed by 79 - 16 ; both Specter and Santorum voted for it.
Vote 123, 16May06, to Table (defeat) amendment : "To prohibit aliens who are currently outside the United States from participating in the H-2C guestworker visa program." (Another attempt to restrain the bill, by limiting Guest Workers to those already in the country, failed). Result - Tabled by 69-28; both Specter and Santorum voted to Table.
Vote 124, 16May06, to Table amendment : " To reduce the number of H-2C nonimmigrants to 200,000 during any fiscal year." (This amendment won and reduces the size of the guestworker intake and removes the 20% increase in annual caps.) Result - Not Tabled by 79 - 18; Specter voted to Table; Santorum to Not Table. ( This was an important vote for some small amount of restraint; but Specter was one of only 18 to vote to grow the unskilled immigrant intake to over 100 million in 20 years, based on analysis of S.2611. This amendment may slow that growth from the original 100-200 million to a 40-90 million range.)
Vote 126, 17May06 : "To increase the amount of fencing and improve vehicle barriers installed along the southwest border of the United States." ( To provide a modicum of real border security.) Result - Passed by 83-16; both Specter and Santorum voted for it.
Vote 128, 17May06 : "To modify the conditions under which an H-2C nonimmigrant may apply for an employment-based immigrant visa." (This precludes convicted felons and other criminals from becoming guestworkers with a path to potential citizenship.) Result - Passed by50-48; Specter voted against; Santorum voted for it.
Vote 130, 18May06, to Table amendment : "To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity." ( by voting to table this, the Senate gives a financial reward as a bonus to amnesty for illegal immigrants. The rest of us get a big future tax bill to pay for it.) Result - Tabled by 50-49; Specter voted to Table (and give us the bill for rewarding illegal immigrants); Santorum voted to Not Table.
Vote 131, 18May06 : "To amend title 4 United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens." Result - Passed by 63-34; both Specter and Santorum voted for it. (Another bill for English as the "common and unifying" language also passed 58-39)
Vote134, 18May06 : "To require aliens seeking adjustment of status under section 245B of the Immigration and Nationality Act or Deferred Mandatory Departure status under section 245C of such Act to pay a supplemental application fee, which shall be used to provide financial assistance to States for health and educational services for noncitizens. " (Not a big fee in view of what they get; but at least a fee.) Result - Passed 64-32; Specter voted against; Santorun voted for it.
Vote 135, 18May06, to Table amendment : "To prohibit H-2C nonimmigrants from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status." ( An attempt to prevent "Temporary Guest Workers" from converting to permanent residents with an easy path to citizenship. Also residents can bring more of their extended family legally into the US with green cards, compounding the size of the immigrant population coming in this way - all with an easy path to citizenship.) Result - Tabled by 58-35; Specter voted to Table; Santorum voted to Not Table. ( I really don't understand why we call them "temporary" workers given these votes.)
Well, that's where we are at the end of the first week of amending the Senate bill. A few good changes got made - some fencing will be included; the number of low-skill immigrants will only be 200,000 per year, instead of 325,000 with an automatic increase of 20% per year as in the original bill; and we won't take in convicted felons. But some really bad items stayed in the bill including a huge Social Security giveaway to existing illegal immigrants and not providing border security as a first priority.
Overall, not a good session from my perspective. Based on the role call votes, It seems Senator Santorum and I agree on most aspects of this issue.
UPDATE , 20 May 06. : I should have given special notice to Roll Call Vote 127 on 17May06 for an amendment by Senators Vitter, Santorum and others : "To strike the provisions related to certain undocumented individuals." This would have completely removed the bill's amnesty provisions for all illegal immigrants. Needless to say, it failed to pass (by a vote of 66-33), with Senator Specter voting against it and for amnesty. Senator Santorum voted in favor of removing the amnesty provisions.
The information ( and votes of other senators) can be found at U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes . You can also link from that site to all the bill data and text. The list starts with the first roll call vote and will be updated. (My personal interpretations are included parenthetically.)
Vote 121, 16May06 : "To prohibit the granting of legal status, or adjustment of current status, to any individual who enters or entered the United States in violation of Federal law unless the border security measures authorized under Title I and section 233 are fully completed and fully operational." ( This would require securing the border first, before granting amnesty (adjusting status) to illegal immigrants.) Result - Failed by 55 to 40 votes; Specter voted against it ; Santorum for it.
Vote 122, 16May06 : "To prohibit implementation of title IV and title VI until the President determines that implementation of such titles will strengthen the national security of the United States." ( A face-saver to allow those who voted Nay on 121 above to show they voted for a "national security" interest. The President has already made that determination in his speech.) Result - Passed by 79 - 16 ; both Specter and Santorum voted for it.
Vote 123, 16May06, to Table (defeat) amendment : "To prohibit aliens who are currently outside the United States from participating in the H-2C guestworker visa program." (Another attempt to restrain the bill, by limiting Guest Workers to those already in the country, failed). Result - Tabled by 69-28; both Specter and Santorum voted to Table.
Vote 124, 16May06, to Table amendment : " To reduce the number of H-2C nonimmigrants to 200,000 during any fiscal year." (This amendment won and reduces the size of the guestworker intake and removes the 20% increase in annual caps.) Result - Not Tabled by 79 - 18; Specter voted to Table; Santorum to Not Table. ( This was an important vote for some small amount of restraint; but Specter was one of only 18 to vote to grow the unskilled immigrant intake to over 100 million in 20 years, based on analysis of S.2611. This amendment may slow that growth from the original 100-200 million to a 40-90 million range.)
Vote 126, 17May06 : "To increase the amount of fencing and improve vehicle barriers installed along the southwest border of the United States." ( To provide a modicum of real border security.) Result - Passed by 83-16; both Specter and Santorum voted for it.
Vote 128, 17May06 : "To modify the conditions under which an H-2C nonimmigrant may apply for an employment-based immigrant visa." (This precludes convicted felons and other criminals from becoming guestworkers with a path to potential citizenship.) Result - Passed by50-48; Specter voted against; Santorum voted for it.
Vote 130, 18May06, to Table amendment : "To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity." ( by voting to table this, the Senate gives a financial reward as a bonus to amnesty for illegal immigrants. The rest of us get a big future tax bill to pay for it.) Result - Tabled by 50-49; Specter voted to Table (and give us the bill for rewarding illegal immigrants); Santorum voted to Not Table.
Vote 131, 18May06 : "To amend title 4 United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens." Result - Passed by 63-34; both Specter and Santorum voted for it. (Another bill for English as the "common and unifying" language also passed 58-39)
Vote134, 18May06 : "To require aliens seeking adjustment of status under section 245B of the Immigration and Nationality Act or Deferred Mandatory Departure status under section 245C of such Act to pay a supplemental application fee, which shall be used to provide financial assistance to States for health and educational services for noncitizens. " (Not a big fee in view of what they get; but at least a fee.) Result - Passed 64-32; Specter voted against; Santorun voted for it.
Vote 135, 18May06, to Table amendment : "To prohibit H-2C nonimmigrants from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status." ( An attempt to prevent "Temporary Guest Workers" from converting to permanent residents with an easy path to citizenship. Also residents can bring more of their extended family legally into the US with green cards, compounding the size of the immigrant population coming in this way - all with an easy path to citizenship.) Result - Tabled by 58-35; Specter voted to Table; Santorum voted to Not Table. ( I really don't understand why we call them "temporary" workers given these votes.)
Well, that's where we are at the end of the first week of amending the Senate bill. A few good changes got made - some fencing will be included; the number of low-skill immigrants will only be 200,000 per year, instead of 325,000 with an automatic increase of 20% per year as in the original bill; and we won't take in convicted felons. But some really bad items stayed in the bill including a huge Social Security giveaway to existing illegal immigrants and not providing border security as a first priority.
Overall, not a good session from my perspective. Based on the role call votes, It seems Senator Santorum and I agree on most aspects of this issue.
UPDATE , 20 May 06. : I should have given special notice to Roll Call Vote 127 on 17May06 for an amendment by Senators Vitter, Santorum and others : "To strike the provisions related to certain undocumented individuals." This would have completely removed the bill's amnesty provisions for all illegal immigrants. Needless to say, it failed to pass (by a vote of 66-33), with Senator Specter voting against it and for amnesty. Senator Santorum voted in favor of removing the amnesty provisions.
