On Immigration Bill, Democrats Raise Possibility of a 2nd Chance

Jun 12, 07:57 AM

Current Headlines: By Carl Hulse

Senate Democrats have opened the door to reviving a stalled immigration measure, calling on Republicans to resolve their divisions and produce an agreement on how to move the legislation forward. With Bush administration officials and Republican authors of the overhaul saying they had not given up on the bill, a spokesman for Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, said Sunday that the Democrats would be willing to try again if Republicans agreed to a defined number of amendments and a time limit on debate.

"If and when Republicans can agree on a limited number of amendments and agree on the need to get this bill passed, Senator Reid is committed to finding room on the Senate schedule as soon as possible," said Jim Manley, the spokesman, who added that President George W. Bush needed to play a role as well. "The hope is that he can apply enough pressure to provide the votes we need to get the bill out of the Senate."

Bush is scheduled to visit the Capitol on Tuesday for lunch with Senate Republicans. That meeting will come just days after the immigration proposal, one of his chief domestic priorities, was derailed when an effort to bring a two-week debate to a close came up far short of the votes needed.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Sunday that the administration was "more determined than ever" to push the measure, which has drawn strong opposition from conservatives.

"Walking away from this bill suggests that we are comfortable with the status quo," Gutierrez said on CNN. "And I think that's a big mistake."

The Senate effort on immigration collapsed Thursday when Reid pulled the bill after Republicans could not agree among themselves on what amendments they wanted debated in exchange for moving to a final vote. Republican supporters of the bill joined its opponents to block a final vote, saying they needed more time.

Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, one of the main Republican proponents of the measure, suggested Sunday that he was running out of patience with some of his colleagues and was prepared to override their objections if there was not progress soon on an agreement.

"I want to make it clear that while I voted to allow my Republican colleagues more time to bring their amendments forth, they've had a good chance to do that," Kyl said on CNN. "And I'm ready to vote to limit the further debate if they don't come forward and give us the amendments that they want so that we can get it done."

Faced with Reid's deadline Thursday, some Republicans - led by the senators Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Jeff Sessions of Alabama - blocked the Senate from considering even Republican amendments and called for much more debate than Democrats would accept. Democrats said that Kyl and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, needed to squeeze concessions from the senators fighting the bill, although they were skeptical it could be done since some critics appear determined to kill the measure.

Republican critics of the bill have called for more chances to eliminate provisions they describe as amnesty. The bill would allow some of those who entered the United States illegally an opportunity to qualify for legal residency by paying fines and meeting other conditions.

Meanwhile, members of the bipartisan coalition that drafted the bill want another chance to overturn some amendments that were made.

Even if there is a new agreement, it is unlikely the Senate would return to the bill immediately.

On Monday, the Senate also was to consider a politically charged proposal for a "no confidence" vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales followed by a week or more of debate on energy legislation. Given high gasoline prices, Democratic leaders of the Senate are intent on showing the public they are taking steps to curb energy costs.

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