The question is not whether immigration reform will pass, but how well.
That seems to be the consensus among supporters in the Senate, and the "Gang of Eight" is discussing plans to guarantee the bipartisan bill passes with 70 votes, not just the 60 votes required to end a filibuster.
"We want a large Republican vote," said bill sponsor Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senator from New York, at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. "We're looking not to get 61 votes -- obviously that's the minimum. Maybe this is hopeful, but it would be wonderful if we could get a majority on both sides."
"I think it's very doable," said Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, another sponsor of the legislation. Both sponsors hope a decisive win in the Senate will convince more recalcitrant House members to vote yes.
Supporters know they have the upper hand in negotiations, since immigration reform is so popular right now, and Republicans are wary of alienating the large and growing Hispanic population in many important swing states.
While some conservatives have been grumbling about the path to citizenship the bill provides for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, removing it is off the table.
"There's no way of getting this job done without giving people a path to citizenship," said McCain. "A legal status is not something that someone should have to remain in unless they want to. It offends our fundamental principles of fairness in our society."
"If they don't provide a path to citizenship, their bill is a non-starter. There will be no immigration reform," Schumer told Univision.
Recently, a bill requiring background checks for firearms purchases, also a wildly popular position, failed the net 60 votes in the Senate, an outcome widely panned across the country. While some worry the immigration bill will go the same way, there isn't a strong anti-immigration lobby currently on the Hill.
In fact, both business and labor groups have been relatively successful in winning concessions in the bill, and the vocal voting bloc is pro-immigration, making risk-averse lawmakers worried about keeping their offices more likely to side with the bill once a final vote is called.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
