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INFORMATION: Top Democrat tells Republicans hell rush immigration billthrough Congress

Cutrona, Danielle (Judiciary-Rep) Mar 27, 2013 4:24 P

Posted in group: Groundswell

Top Democrat tells Republicans hell rush immigration bill

through Congress

March 27, 2013 | 3:20 pm | Modified: March 27, 2013 at 4:15 pm

Joel Gehrke

The Washington Examiner

Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., indicated that he will expedite immigration reform by skipping by further committeehearings on the legislation in a sharp letter to a leading Republican lawmaker that included a strikingamount of trash-talking about immigration issues and politics.

I intend to proceed to comprehensive immigration reform with all deliberate speed, Leahy wrote to Sen.Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., in a letter today informing Sessions that Republicans will only have one week to

consider the immigration bill two, if Republicans use procedural means to slow it. Under the Rules of ourCommittee, you will have your rights protected to hold over the legislation the first week that it is listed onthe Committees agenda. After that, you will have the right to circulate and offer amendments.

Leahy also said that past Congresses investigated the immigration issue enough that they dont need tohold further hearings on this particular legislation.

If any of the more junior Senators need time to get up to speed, I will look forward to them discussing theirspecific readiness problems with me directly and I will look forward to working with them as well, he said.

Sessions rejected such a schedule. The Chairmans suggestion that we dont need hearings on this newproposal because we have held immigration hearings in the past misses the entire point: the massiveproposal being cobbled together by a group of Senators in secret must be independently judged andreviewed by the Judiciary Committee in the full light of day, he stated in response to Leahys letter, aprocess that would take months, in his estimation.

No member of Congress who believes in democratic procedure can acquiesce to the ramming through of athousand-page bill that will dramatically and directly impact the taxes, wages, and security of ourconstituents, Sessions added.

Leahy dispensed with some of the decorum characteristic of the Senate in addressing the letter to Jeff,even though he was responding to a letter sent by six lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.,

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who serves as Leahys counterpart on the Judiciary Committee.

I understand your frustration as someone excluded from the group that Senator McCain has pulled togetherto try to develop a bipartisan proposal, the Democratic chairman said. That is not a beef you have withme.

Leahy then cited the Republican National Committee autopsy supporting comprehensive immigrationreform as evidence that Sessions needs to come around on the issue.

I am encouraged that after two resounding electoral defeats, some Republican politicians are concernedenough about the growing Hispanic voting population that they are abandoning their former demagogueryand coming to the table, he said.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/top-democrat-talks-smack-on-immigration-in-letter-to-top-republican/article/2525558

http://washingtonexaminer.com/top-democrat-talks-smack-on-immigration-in-letter-to-top-republican/article/2525558