We have voted on it. We have debated it at length on the floor of the Senate already this year. On one vote. by a vote of 58 to 41. the Senate voted in favor of an amendment similar to this that I offered on the legal immigration bill. It was also passed on another piece of legislation. The prior Senatepassed amendment would direct the Secretary of Commerce to make such adjustments In total population figures as may be necessary and feasible. using such methods and procedures as the Secretary determines appropriate. in order that aliens in the United States in violation of the immigration laws not be counted in tabulating popiation for purposes of reapportionment of the House of Representatives. That is the central issue here. The Senate has gone on record that illegal aliens should not be part of the tabulation of total population figures for purposes of apportionment. This position has withstood a point of order in the U.S. Senate that is unconstitutional by a vote of 5643. A majority of the Senate. therefore. has affirmed that it is constitutionally proper to exclude from census figures for purposes of apportionment the undocumented alien. This may be the last opportunity the Congress will have concerning this issue this millenium. For over 10 years the Congress has attempted to get a vote on the issue in both bodies.
Keywords matched
undocumented immigration illegal aliens