Speech #1100054124

Mr. President. I rise to respond to a couple of suggestions proffered before the Senate as it relates to those Senators who have amendments to offer to the comprehensive immigration reform legislation. I am compelled to do so because the way they are characterized ultimately demeans what should be a clear process of what is the greatest marketplace of ideas. the Senate. The first item that I have heard several times is the suggestion that certain amendments are killer amendments. When one of our colleagues. particularly those who were part of constructing the bargain. suggests that a certain amendment is a "killer amendment." a killer amendment where the intention. the purpose. the main goal is to kill the legislation before us because they dont like it and they dont want to see it pass. maybe they are a part of the universe who believes we should just seek to deport everybody in the country. 12 million people. the greatest deportation in the history of mankind. Maybe it is those who believe we should spend $250 billion in order to accomplish that. But. regardless. there is a universe of individuals that clearly does not like this bill or the idea of comprehensive immigration reform. and they seek to have amendments that would in essence destroy the essence of the legislation. I am chagrined to hear my distinguished colleague from Arizona. in a listing of amendments. suggest that my amendments on family reunification are killer amendments. I didnt know that family reunification rose to the level of being a killer amendment because unlike some of our colleagues who last year opposed comprehensive immigration reform. I was here advocating for and casting votes for final passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Yet some who come to the floor now and suggest that certain amendments are killer amendments werent there last year for comprehensive immigration reform. I do want to see comprehensive immigration reform. I worked for it last year and voted for last years version. I spent countless hours in negotiation sessions this year to try to achieve a bill that I could support.