Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line

Senate coalition sees its bipartisan brainchild grow from concept to pending legislation
By Ben Worthen,  Newser User
Posted Jun 4, 2007 12:30 PM CDT
Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., left, accompanied by fellow Senators, speaks about the immigration legislation, Thursday, May 24, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. From left are, Kyl, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., Sen. Mel...   (Associated Press)

The "grand bargain"—the compromise on which the proposed immigration bill turns—is the product of a process that saw senators from every point on the political compass unite around a common goal. With the senate scheduled to take up the legislation this week, the LA Times goes behind the scenes to look at the forging of an unusual consensus.

Senators joined in and dropped out. The White House dispatched Cabinet secretaries. Voices were raised. When the dust settled, a bipartisan team of a dozen senators led by Ted Kennedy and Jon Kyl had vetted every phrase of the 628-page bill. Final amendments are up next, and the grand bargainers will be back at the negotiating table—together. (More immigration reform stories.)

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