The first of many abomindations to come:

Senators cast their first votes on immigration legislation this afternoon, just as President Bush vowed to work closely with skeptical members of Congress on a comprehensive bill to fix a system that does not work.

The Senate defeated, 55 to 40, a proposal by Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, that lawmakers demand that border-security measures be in place before beginning a guest-worker program of the kind envisioned by President Bush.

The 55 senators rejected Mr. Isakson’s argument that, if the Congress did not act now, it would have to a decade or so from now, and that “instead of 10 million or 12 million, it will be 24 million” illegal immigrants at issue.

Opponents of the Isakson measure (36 Democrats, 18 Republicans and the independent James Jeffords of Vermont) maintained that it would be an obstacle to the kind of comprehensive legislation that is needed.

The GOP Senators who oppose Enforcement First and sided with the open-borders Dems:

Bennett (UT)
Brownback (R-KS),
Chafee (RI),
Coleman (MN),
Collins (ME),
Craig (ID),
DeWine (OH),
Graham (SC),
Hagel (NE),
Lugar (IN),
Martinez (FL),
Murkowski (AK),
Shelby (AL),
Snow (ME),
Specter (PA),
Stevens (AK),
Voinovich (OH),
Warner (VA)

Not voting:

Cochran (R-MS)
Gregg (R-NH)
Lott (R-MS)
McCain (R-AZ)
Rockefeller (D-WV)

Don’t just sit there and steam. Pick up the phone.

comments (0)   trackbacks (35)