Senate Democrats Resist Bipartisan Immigration Accord [View All]

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Source: Bloomberg

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a leader in forging a bipartisan compromise to overhaul U.S. immigration law, may have a tougher time selling the plan to fellow Democrats than to Republicans.

His first stop could be the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said in a statement he had ``serious concerns.'' In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid questioned whether ``we're going to be able to pass it.'' Some Republicans were dissatisfied as well, calling the plan thinly disguised amnesty for illegal immigrants.

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The compromise, in accommodating Republicans who insist on tougher enforcement and provisions favored by U.S. businesses, may risk losing the support of Democrats sensitive to the concerns of Hispanic immigrants and organized labor. Democrats expressed doubts over provisions to create a temporary-worker program and to reduce the emphasis on uniting families when deciding which legal immigrants are admitted to the U.S.

Attendance at Kennedy's news conference yesterday to announce the deal underscored the political difficulty he faces. Only two Democrats, Ken Salazar of Colorado and Dianne Feinstein of California, were at his side. By contrast, seven Republican senators and two Bush administration Cabinet secretaries were at the podium.


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