U.S. Senate is not ready for immigration debate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate is far from being able to debate immigration reform, despite President Ba1000rack Obama called for a review of the system, said on Monday a senior Democratic aide.
Reforming U.S. immigration laws is a top legislative priorities Obama and a major theme Arizona after last week passed a tough legislation against illegal immigration.
“Ni even have a bill yet, “the aide said, adding that Democrats who control the House want to see an immigration law before deciding to address it, and that could take months.
Talks on a bipartisan environmental law collapsed on Saturday amid reports that Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid, could move forward with immigration legislation over a planned bill to combat climate change.
The Democratic consultant said it was unclear if the immigration bill will be introduced in the Senate before a climate bill, or vice versa.
” Both are tied in terms of importance to Democratic leaders in the House (of Representatives) and Senate, “said the advisor.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday accused Reid of playing politics in an election year with the immigration bill and withdrew his support of an advance agreement on the legal text of the environment.
Reid is in a difficult campaign for reelection in November in your state Nevada, and move forward with health reform could help to attract Hispanics, an important electoral group.
Although Graham tried to reach agreement on environmental legislation, has also worked for months with Democratic Senator Charles Schumer on a possible immigration bill bipartisan.
The project would seek to boost border security, create a new process for admitting temporary workers and implement a ” tough but fair way “to U.S. citizenship for illegal immigrants in the United States.
Reid could declare talks stalled and offer a bill on their own.
A top negotiator said Reid enterprise created confusion with the immigration effort.
“Right now I have no idea what direction (…) plan to take Reid” the negotiator said.
Chris Krueger of Concept Capital, a private firm that tracks Congress for institutional investors in search, said: “I think the chances of Congress to pass immigration reform (this year) are scarce to nonexistent, and just left little opportunity. “
” Perhaps they are kicking for the next year, “said Krueger.
(Published in Spanish by Marion Giraldo)