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Sen. Reid moves to force vote on immigration

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 6, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Senate debate over a broad immigration compromise degenerated into bitter partisanship Tuesday, with Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of trying to squander its chances of passing. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., moved to force a vote Thursday to end debate within 30 hours. The move ran into swift and forceful opposition from Republicans who said Democrats were squelching debate. The measure would legalize an estimated 12-million unlawful immigrants while tightening border security and instituting new work site enforcement measures to bar the hiring of illegal workers. The bill also creates a controversial guest worker program and a new point system for evaluating future immigrants based on their employability rather than family ties to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. A bipartisan group of senators voted Tuesday to require employers to recruit Americans before hiring temporary workers from abroad. It passed 71-22, with only Republicans opposed.

Jefferson gives up committee seat

The House approved a speedy internal investigation of indicted Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., with a pair of votes Tuesday that could nudge him from Congress before his bribery trial. Jefferson, meanwhile, gave up his last remaining committee position, a seat on the Small Business Committee, in response to his indictment on federal charges of taking more than $500, 000 in bribes. The nine-term Congress member had few allies among the leaders of his own party, and Democrats already had moved to take the committee seat away from him. Jefferson admitted no wrongdoing.

Death won't affect balance in Senate

The death of Republican Sen. Craig Thomas of Wyoming will not change the balance of power in the Senate, which has 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents who often align themselves with the Democrats. Unlike many states, Wyoming law is designed to keep the same party in power after a vacancy. Gov. Dave Freudenthal will appoint a successor from three finalists chosen by the state Republican Party, and the new senator will serve until a special election in 2008. Thomas, 74, a conservative, died Monday after a fight with leukemia.

State Department suffers shortage

The State Department has too few people to fill increasingly difficult jobs while the Iraq and Afghanistan wars drain off resources, an independent report found Tuesday. The Foreign Affairs Council, which includes retired ambassadors and senior diplomats, also said morale is dropping among diplomats based on "widespread anecdotal evidence." The State Department needs 1, 100 more employees, the report said.

[Last modified June 6, 2007, 01:06:30]