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Bush appeals for return of immigration bill |
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By Chris Good
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Posted: 06/09/07 11:34 AM [ET] |
Two days after the Bush-backed immigration compromise failed to reach a vote and was pulled from the Senate floor, the president appealed to senators for its return.
“I understand the skepticism some members of Congress have regarding certain aspects of this legislation,” Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday. “Like any legislation, this bill is not perfect. And like many senators, I believe the bill will need to be further improved along the way before it becomes law.”
He aimed the bulk of his remarks at members of Congress instead of U.S. citizens, calling on them not to abandon the bill, which could be his last chance to achieve reforms he has pushed since his first term in office.
“In the heat of the debate, critics and supporters can sometimes talk past each other,” Bush said. “So I want to speak to members about some of the concerns I have heard.”
The president urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring the bill back for another vote quickly and continued his pitch on some of its more controversial points. With some conservatives labeling it “The Bush amnesty plan,” the president again asserted that the bill’s guest worker program does not grant amnesty.
The president also sought to allay fears on border security, a top issue for conservatives like Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“I know some of you doubt that the federal government will make good on the border security and enforcement commitments in this bill,” Bush said, but he added that his administration “is determined to learn from the mistakes of the past decades.”
Reid has said he would consider bringing the bill back to the floor later this year if he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can reach an agreement on rules for the debate. |
