Senate Immigration Bill Hits Snag Byy William L. WattsWASHINGTON (Dow Jones) — A proposed overhaul of the nation's immigration laws that would give millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship hit a parliamentary snag in the Senate Thursday, endangering prospects for passage of a fragile bipartisan compromise that is a top legislative priority for the White House.
In a 33-to-63 vote, the Senate fell well short of the 60 needed to limit debate on the bill and set the stage for a vote on passage. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had sought to wrap up work on the bill by the end of the week.
While that goal now appears elusive, Reid said that he wouldn't yank the bill from the floor, but would allow further work on pending amendments in hope of reaching agreement on a final timetable.
"This is a marathon. We owe it to the American people to move forward on this legislation," said Reid, who added that he planned to seek another debate-limiting vote later Thursday.
My view is that he owes it to the American people not to move forward on it. (Perhaps he owes it to the Mexican people to move forward on it—that's different.) But what he really owes it to Americans of both parties is not to do it without debating it first
UPDATE: Another attempt at cloture fails, 45-50, see here for details.
