Capitol Hill 'Roll Call' Wonders If LGBT Inclusion Will Kill Immigration Reform

 

 

In Roll Call, journalist Alexander Bolton writes about the fears on Capitol Hill that including LGBT Americans in the proposed immigration reform will kill the legislation. Republicans are vowing to kill it in the House of Representatives if an amendment by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is included which would add LGBT Americans to the bill.

Of course, House Republicans have already indicated that they are likely to kill immigration reform if it includes a path to citizenship! Guess they are just looking for a good scapegoat!

Bolton reports:

A proposal to expand gay rights is threatening to splinter a fragile, bipartisan agreement on immigration reform and kill a pillar of President Obama’s second-term agenda.

The Senate Gang of Eight, which crafted the immigration legislation, pledged to fight off “poison pill” amendments that would derail the bill. But one controversial proposal has already divided the group.

An amendment sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) would allow U.S. citizens in long-term same-sex relationships to sponsor foreign partners for green cards.

It is potentially the most troublesome amendment of the more than 300 proposed changes that have been filed by members of the Judiciary panel.

Republican members of the Gang of Eight have stated bluntly to their Democratic partners that this will sink the bill if adopted during the committee’s deliberations.

The markup begins on Thursday, which is the one-year anniversary of Obama’s decision to embrace same-sex marriage.

“If that’s in the bill, that will kill the bill,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the gang. “This bill has got to get broad support to have a chance in the House, and with that provision it will not have broad support. A lot of the coalitions that are behind it will go away, and so I think that’s pretty much understood.”

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), a Democratic member of the group, declared Tuesday he is a strong supporter of the amendment but stopped short of saying how he would vote if it comes up in committee. “I support it and hope we can find a way to resolve it. It’s a fair thing to do,” Durbin said.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a Reid lieutenant and another member of group, is a co-sponsor of legislation that served as the template for the amendment, the Uniting American Families Act.

Durbin and Schumer are members of the Judiciary Committee and either one could strike down Leahy’s amendment by voting with Republicans against it.

Democrats control 10 seats on the panel to the Republicans’ eight. The other Democratic members of the panel are expected to back the Leahy measure.

Leahy also filed an amendment exempting the immigration status of same-sex couples from restrictions established by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) if a state or another country recognizes their unions.

Durbin and Schumer are leading contenders to someday replace Sen. Harry Reid (Nev.) as Democratic leader. They have come under pressure from prominent Democratic fundraisers and gay-rights advocates to support the Leahy legislation.

“It will be interesting how Durbin and Schumer vote because they have huge [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] constituencies and citizens in their states, and I can’t imagine them not supporting the Leahy amendment,” said David Mixner, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and political strategist. “Since when do we separate a whole group of American citizens and say, ‘These rights apply to everyone, but not LGBT citizens.’”

Mixner said it would be a “moral outrage” if the Senate passed immigration legislation that discriminated against same-sex couples.

Leahy is one of the biggest allies of gay-rights advocates, who do not want him to succumb to colleagues who would prefer the amendment not come up for a vote.

READ ENTIRE COLUMN HERE........

Bend The Arc: Would Your Grandparents Be Able To Make It To America Today?

 

 

With the exception of native Americans, we all come from another place. Each successive wave of immigrants to the United States has been met with hostility and suspicion. Only the slave ship brought people to our shores unwillingly. Others came to escape repression, seek freedom or to simply economically improve their lives. No matter if it was the Italians, Irish, Polish or Jews, their arrival was viewed with hate, discrimination and suppression.

Most were poor and lived cramped in small rooms as they attempted to find their place in America.

As we debate immigration today, how ironical that none of us would be living here if our ancestors had not made the same journey that immigrants are making today. Don't kid yourself and actually believe all the past immigrants arrived here legally. In fact, those that came legally would be the exception and not the rule.

Bend the Arc has created a little chart for you to see if your grandpa and grandma could have made it into the country legally with the current rules. Just click below and take the test!

http://www.entrydenied.org/

Republicans: Blame The Gays......

 

 

 

What to do? What to do?

The Republicans know they have to pass some sort of immigration reform or they run the risk of even greater backlash from Hispanic voters in the mid-terms. The 'Gang of Eight' arrived at a proposal with Senator Marco Rubio giving his considerable blessing. There was one problem. Even Senator Rubio expressed doubt that any immigration reform legislation worth a damn would ever be passed by the right-wing Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Fortunately for the Republicans, 'The Gang of Eight' removed LGBT Americans from the legislation. Evidently, our rights and freedom are viewed as the 'kiss of death' by our elected representatives in Congress. Equally fortunately, LGBT citizens are no longer rolling over and playing dead every time someone denies them their rights and are insisting that we be included in the historic legislation.

Anyone who knows a bi-national LGBT couple knows of the pain, fear and economic uncertainty that dominates their lives. If they were able to get married like straight Americans there would be no issue since they could easily settle in America. An immigration bill without addressing this horror would indeed be hollow and divisive.

Senator Rubio, never one to miss an opportunity, has changed his tune and now proclaims that if all Americans are included in the legislation then it will be defeated. He wants us to forget that he had already proclaimed that the crazies in the House would never pass serious immigration reform. After all, the good Senator has a new excuse.

When failure is at the door just blame the gays.

Thank God! After all, if we can blame earthquakes, hurricanes, Newtown, Boston and every other ailment in America on LGBT Americans, while not just add immigration reform. Hell, most likely, even the Catholic Church would withdraw their support of the legislation if all Americans are treated equally.

Guess what Senator Rubio?

Not going to work this time. Not only are LGBT Americans on to this disgrace but so are Hispanic Americans who are shocked that over a quarter of a million LGBT Americans are not included. The two communities stand side by side - powerfully - to say 'oh no you don't!"