OH, KY senators say NO to immigration bill

All four Ohio and Kentucky senators voted today to close the door – and essentially kill – a major overhaul of immigration laws, serving up a stinging rebuke to President Bush, who had pushed for the bill's passage.

Here's what they had to say about the bill's defeat:

"I had hoped for a bipartisan accomplishment, and what we got was a bipartisan defeat. The American people made their voices heard, the Senate worked its will, and in the end it was clear that the bill that was crafted did not have the support of the people of Kentucky," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville.

"I have always opposed amnesty in any shape, size or form. The thousands of calls and e-mails my office received over the last month against this amnesty bill only strengthened my resolve. I appreciate those calls, and your voices were heard loud and clear," said Sen. Jim Bunning, R- Southgate, Ky.

"I want an immigration bill that secures our borders, revises and updates our current laws to respond to our economic needs and brings the 12 million illegal aliens in our country out of the shadows. I am not convinced that this legislation meets those criteria," said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Cleveland.

"I was deeply concerned about the impact of the bill’s guest worker provisions on Ohio wages and working conditions, and the provision that would separate families, which is why I voted against cloture," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain.

Thursday's 46-53 procedural vote blocked final consideration of the bill for the second time in three weeks. It is unlikely that another effort will be made to revive the measure since supporters fell far short of the 60 votes needed to end debate.

It also makes the House less likely to take up the issue later this summer. House Republicans overwhelmingly opposed the Senate bill, and Democrats who control Congress may not be able — or willing — to pass legislation without bipartisan support.

The Senate bill would have given millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and would have established a new temporary-worker program for foreigners. It also would have increased border security and required companies to verify that their employees were legally permitted to work here.

The system for distributing immigrant visas, which now go mostly to relatives of U.S. citizens and immigrants, would have been replaced with a new merit-based system using points.
An estimated 12 million people now live in the United States illegally, and an estimated 500,000 more come every year.