Prospects brighten for Senate bill

BY GLENN THRUSH | Newsday Washington Bureau

April 29, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Senate moved closer to an immigration compromise Friday when a key Democratic leader said he'd be willing to allow a reform bill - along with up to a dozen controversial GOP amendments - to come to a vote soon.

Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) emerged from a Capitol Hill meeting with Catholic leaders Friday to say he'll allow votes on 10 to 12 amendments. He'd previously blocked them out of concern they would gut the Senate's relatively lenient guest worker compromise.

"If they want to have these votes, we'll have votes," said Reid, adding the amendments are no longer a "sticking point."

The developments came on a day when President George W. Bush said he's against the Monday boycott and protests planned by immigrant advocates and some church leaders.

Earlier this month, Reid and Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) reached a deal on a guest worker program to allow 10 million of the 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. while they apply for citizenship.

But that compromise fell apart over the issue of how many amendments would be considered on the floor. Frist wanted as many as 20; Reid would agree to only three, arguing that they were intended to embarrass Democrats into looking weak on border security.

Over the past week, GOP leaders have assured Reid that the amendments would fail. Reid also was encouraged by a Tuesday meeting with Bush, who signaled his support for the Senate plan.

Bush also eased Reid's concerns that House Republicans would scuttle the guest worker program when the Senate bill is reconciled with their own get-tough version.

Los Angeles Archbishop Roger Mahony, Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley and Washington, D.C.'s Cardinal Theodore McKarrick lobbied at Congress and the White House in favor of the Senate bill Friday.

They oppose the House bill, which they say will criminalize Good Samaritans who help immigrants.