America is pushing back

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- The fate of U.S. immigration legislation was cast into doubt when at least six senators who helped revive the proposed overhaul said they either oppose or are leaning against a move to permit a vote on final passage.

The measure is in more jeopardy ``than I thought a few hours ago,'' said Senator Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat.

The supporters' strategy of disposing of amendments that threatened the legislation's bipartisan support hit a procedural snag late in the day, adding to the uncertainty. The Senate refused to set aside an amendment by Montana Democrats Max Baucus and Jon Tester that would dilute requirements employers verify the identity of new workers.

Under Senate rules, Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, now can't move to consider other provisions without getting the consent of all 100 senators.

``I think this hurts'' the measure, said Texas Republican John Cornyn, an opponent.

Earlier today, Senate sponsors had succeeded in killing a series of proposed changes that would undermine the measure's support. Nonetheless, senators who voted yesterday to resume consideration of the bill were withdrawing support.

Leaning Against

Republicans Richard Burr of North Carolina and Christopher Bond of Missouri and Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska said they oppose permitting a vote on final passage. Virginia Democrat Jim Webb and Republicans John Ensign of Nevada and Pete Domenici of New Mexico said they were leaning that way.

The only way the people of North Carolina could have been more forceful it telling Richard Burr that he erred in voting to allow the amnesty bill to reach the floor would have involved firearms and explosives. He may well have gotten the message.

I retain the hope that democracy still means something in America, but if this thing passes the Senate and the House and is signed by Bush that will have stripped the federal government of its last shred of legitimacy.

One of the contributors to the group blog Knowledge is Power put it like this:

Do they in Kongruss even realize how this is disintegrating the population’s respect for the Rule of Law and the idea of Every Man Equal Before The Law?

Contempt for the Lawmakers leads to contempt for The Law.

The onlyiest folks following The Law from here on out will be those who do it solely to satisfy their own inner Values. What they’ve told the rest is, “hey—if ya don’t get caught, go for it! And if ya do—no biggie...”