Immigration Bill on Hold
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate is finished with immigration legislation—for the time being—after Democrats failed yesterday to get a final vote on the compromise measure.
Supporters of cutting off debate got only 45 of 60 votes needed, the New York Times reports.
Reid, D-Nev., did indicate he would be willing to revisit the issue later this year. “We all have to work, the president included, to find a way to get this bill passed,” he said.
The measure suffered a fatal blow, according to the Washington Post, when the Senate approved a Democratic proposal to end a business-backed guest worker program after five years.
Democrats fear such programs keep wages down. Four Republicans changed their votes and also agreed end the program, knowing it could kill the immigration bill.
