Top Democrats Ready to Oppose Views to Save Immigration
Senators Richard Durbin and Charles Schumer, with long records of supporting labor unions, gay rights and gun restrictions, are ready to vote against these constituencies to win passage of an immigration law.
The second- and third-ranking Democrats in the chamber helped craft the bipartisan immigration bill the Senate will consider this week. They warn that attempts to amend the legislation for unions, gay-rights activists and gun control advocates could scuttle the most significant revision of U.S. immigration policy in a generation.
Without changes, it’s expected to pass the Senate by July 4 while facing tougher opposition in the House.
“They’re going to have to anger those constituencies and supporters and fellow Democrats at times,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice in Washington, a group promoting revisions to immigration law. “You don’t make history playing it safe.”
Gay-rights groups are urging Senator Patrick Leahy to offer an amendment giving immigrants who are in same-sex marriages with U.S. citizens benefits equal to heterosexual couples. The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, is seeking changes to the bill aimed at ensuring that U.S. workers get the first crack at technology jobs.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-10/top-democrats-ready-to-oppose-views-to-save-immigration.html