February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The emergence of Kennedy as a solo running reformer follows reports that Senator John McCain, up until now Kennedy’s main Republican partner in the reform push, was apparently stepping back from his front line position as a bill sponsor.
An apparent immediate consequence of McCain’s new reluctance was a failure to unveil the expected revised McCain/Kennedy bill in advance of St. Patrick’s Day, or during the visit to Washington last week by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who talked up immigration reform at every opportunity.
Nevertheless, observers were emphasizing that while there has been a change in political lineup, the reform case will still be presented to the Senate for a vote, while the House of Representatives is also poised to consider its own bill, one that is strongly supported by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
According to sources, Kennedy, who is describing his own position as “determined,” is this week moving to present a reform bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been given the green light to do so by its chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy.
This bill will be a dusted down version of the McCain/Kennedy measure passed by the committee a year ago.
The committee, which now has a Democratic majority, will consider Kennedy’s bill “shortly,” according to one source.
Senator McCain is being seen this week as not necessarily less supportive of reform, but more wary, this because he has been taking criticism from GOP supporters on the campaign trail.
“Immigration, an issue that has divided Republicans in Washington, is reverberating across the party’s presidential campaign field, causing particular complications for Senator John McCain of Arizona,” the New York Times reported Tuesday.
The Times reported that McCain said he was “reconsidering his views” on how immigration law might be changed and “appeared to distance himself” from Kennedy.
One particular proposal that seems to be crating distance is that of “touch-back.” The original McCain/Kennedy bill envisaged a path to earned legalization for illegals and undocumented while they remained in the U.S.
The “touch-back” idea would mean applicants having to first quit the U.S. in order to get back in. McCain seemed to be favoring that position as of this week. A call to his Senate office had not been returned by presstime.
Confirmation that McCain was suddenly in a quandary over immigration reform was separately confirmed to the Echo last week by Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Dean said that McCain had “backed away” from the revised bill and Kennedy was now “carrying it.”
Dean said he still expected passage of reform but said it would be “tough.”
He cited “complications of Republican presidential politics” as the reason why McCain was now reconsidering his position, a view backed up by Tuesday’s Times report.
Kennedy, meanwhile, could look for a Senate Republican co-sponsor for his bill who is not running for president. Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel or Mitch McConnell are possibilities. Sam Brownback of Kansas, who is seeking the GOP nomination, is another.
Brownback supports reform and spoke at an Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform rally in Washington last summer. He released a St. Patrick’s Day message last week and took part in the parade in Des Moines, Iowa.
Kennedy, meanwhile, is nothing if not experienced when it comes to immigration reform battles.
“Senator Kennedy has shifted tactics and wants to go with the bill that came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s a stronger bill than what [ultimately] passed the Senate last year, and quite frankly, it’s faster,” said a spokeswoman.
“This is a bit like the Northern Ireland peace process. It ebbs and flows and you can have a bad week. There’s a need for the dust to settle,” said an informed Washington observer.
After the Echo went to press Tuesday, Senator Kennedy released a statement expressing support for the Flake/Gutierrez reform bill in the House.
“I applaud my friends Rep. Flake and Gutierrez for moving forward on immigration reform and introducing their bill on Thursday,” Kennedy said.
“They are our valued partners in this effort to forge a tough but fair bill that strikes the right balance between protecting our security, strengthening our economy, and enacting laws that uphold our humanity.
“While we’re still negotiating in the Senate, I’m optimistic that soon we will have legislation and I’m determined to make 2007 the year that we fix our broken system. The American people have waited long enough.”