E-Verify extended for six-months; Leahy, Reid block five-year extension

Posted Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 8:03 pm

A six month extension for the EVerify program was successfully added to the omnibus spending bill, but an amendment from Sen. Jeff Sessions to extend it for five years was blocked through the machinations of Patrick Leahy. Details and a list of those who voted for and against Leahy's procedural issue here; commentary on individual senators is here. Seven Dems voted against Leahy; the three named as biggest disappointments are Mark Pryor, Mary Landrieu, and Kirsten Gillibrand.

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kirsten gillibrand
everify
numbers usa
mark pryor
mary landrieu

Comments

Steve (not verified)

Wed, 03/11/2009 - 05:07

Dorgan was also a big disappointment.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Wed, 03/11/2009 - 05:14

what it all means is control and not good control.

llamajockey (not verified)

Wed, 03/11/2009 - 22:51

Yesterday's E-Verify vote was at best a short term tactical victory for the Obama Administration and a possible major strategic defeat down the road. Between now and September several more states will pass their own E-Verify enforcement legislation. Hopefully Indiana will be one of them. More importantly, the vote showed that the Republican party, at least in the Senate is 100% behind E-Verify. The only reason dozen of Democrats voted for tabling the 5 year extension was out courtesy to a new and inexperienced president who is clearly floundering. Had they not voted Obama's way it would have been the equivalent to an huge vote of no confidence. Obama will not get that break six months from now. Now Obama has indicated that he will make a push for "CIR". Good Luck I say. In six months his approval ratings will be in the forties, because unless something is done about restricting immigration illegal and legal, the economy and consumer confidence will not improve. Six months from now immigration will be even more radioactive. However, now Obama has no option for avoiding the issue.