It is a very bad precedent for congressional procedure here in our second week to shut down ideas from both sides of the aisle to make either of these bills better beyond a select few ideas that have apparently been blessed by the Republican majority. I heard in the Rules Committee last nightand my friend. the chair. did as wella number of very good amendments that were offered. some that I didnt agree with. but I still thought we ought to be able to discuss and debateI offered a few myselfbut hardly any of these are actually allowed to be debated or voted on by the Members of this body. Instead. what the Republicans have done is effectively hijack the discussion of homeland security and safety to instead have a discussion about our broken immigration system. Well. I was ready to go for that. I offered an amendment that would have allowed us to vote on an immigration reform bill as part of the rule. one that passed the Senate with more than twothirds support last session. one that I believe would still carry the support of more than 60 SenatorsI think it would likely pass the House if it had been made in orderbut I was shut down. Instead of allowing a discussion about a solution to our broken immigration crisis. the Republicans seek to keep it alive. conflict for the sake of conflict. and to somehow lump families and children in with criminals for the same enforcement priority. which makes no sense to any law enforcement professional or any of our communities. which is why we have a broad coalition of the business community. the faithbased community. the law enforcement community. all outraged over the most recent Republican actions. which seem to cater to the far rightwing of their party. rather than seek pragmatic practical solutions to replace our broken immigration system with one that works. With regard to the Financial Services bill. I offered a bipartisan amendment along with my colleagues.
Keywords matched
immigration