Why is the Senate Immigration Bill Referred to as the Reid-Kennedy Bill?
Washington,
Jun 29, 2006 -
Why is the Senate Immigration Bill Referred to as the Reid-Kennedy Bill?
Because it’s a Democrat Bill.
Democrats amended it. Among the numerous Democrat amendments that were added to the Senate immigration legislation, Senator Ted Kennedy offered one that would allow illegal immigrants who have worked less than 40 days to be eligible for green cards. The amendment was adopted with the support of 42 Democrats. Forty-one Republicans opposed it. Senate Record Vote Number: 129
Democrats defended it. The Senate legislation included a provision to award Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants for the time they worked here illegally. Republicans offered an amendment to strip this provision from the bill, but Senator Kennedy led the fight against this Republican amendment. Ultimately, the amendment was rejected by one vote – with 39 Democrats united against it. Senate Record Vote Number: 130
Democrats weakened it. An amendment sponsored by Senators Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy rejected English as our national language, and supplanted a Republican amendment that would have required those seeking citizenship to learn English. The amendment was adopted with the support of 44 Democrats. Thirty-nine Republicans opposed it. Senate Record Vote Number: 132
Democrats passed it. A majority of Democrats in the Senate voted for the Reid-Kennedy immigration bill. A majority of Republicans in the Senate voted against it. Thirty-nine Senate Democrats voted for final passage of the legislation; thirty-two Senate Republicans voted against it. Senate Record Vote Number: 157
It’s time to give credit where credit is due. Senators Reid and Kennedy worked hard to pass a bill that fails to address important border security needs and rewards the behavior of illegal immigrants who have made the choice to break our laws. They deserve to have their name atop it.
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