Tuesday Open Thread [6.25.13]

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yesterday, Comprenshive Immigration Reform passed its first hurdle in the U.S. Senate. The Border Surge Amendment sponsored by Republican Senators Bob Corker (TN) and John Hoeven (ND), which provides approximately $40 billion over the next 10 years to bolster border security, doubles the endorcement agents to 40,000 and the completion of 700 miles of border fencing. Cloture was filed on the amendment, which means that the Senate was voting to end debate on the Amendment and proceed to a floor vote on the Amendment. The Cloture vote was 67 to 31, with two Democrats absent. So that gives us our first indication that immigration reform may garner as many as 69 votes in support (as it is hard to imagine that the 31 Republican Senators voting to filibuster the Border Security Amendment would vote in favor of the full package with they say endorses amnesty. This caused Sarah Palin to rev up her bigotry machine, and she took to the airwaves (or Facebook pages) to rip Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the Immrigation Bill.
Said Palin: "Just like they did with Obamacare, some in Congress intend to 'Pelosi' the amnesty bill. They'll pass it in order to find out what's in it. And just like the unpopular, unaffordable Obamacare disaster, this pandering, rewarding-the-rule-breakers, still-no-border-security, special-interests-ridden, 24-pound disaster of a bill is not supported by informed Americans."
If by "Pelosi," Sarah Palin means pass significant and comprehensive reform that improves the lives of many in an efficient manner, which Nancy Pelosi did as Speaker, then she's right.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 25, 2013

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 25, 2013

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On the subject of Jack Markell's tactics, when it comes to state employees, he needs an intervention. Which the House D's, who have bottled up legislation giving state employees a voice on the...State Employees' Benefits Committee, seem prepared to offer him. Rather than let SB 21, which would give state employees two seats on the committee, come to a vote, the House has announced a 'compromise'. Rather than just pass the bill, which I have no doubt would pass, or even let it out of committee, well, let's let mealy-mouthed Valerie Longhurst spell out the 'compromise'. Direct from a House of Reps press release:
House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst, who chairs the Administration Committee, and Senate Bill 21 sponsor Rep. Larry Mitchell worked with union officials last week to reach a general compromise on the measure and will iron out details of an amendment during the legislative break. “We know that the unions really want this bill to move forward, but we know there is opposition from the administration too,” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear. “There also is a good amount of support within our own caucus for the bill, so I have committed to Rep. Mitchell and the unions that we will work out an agreement during the break and come back in January, get the bill released from committee and put it on the floor for a full House vote.”
Allow moi to translate: "We're gonna stick with the Governor's anti-employee approach until we totally have to cave to our members." I mean, what kind of 'compromise' is Governor Walker Markell willing to accept in January that he couldn't accept today? One member instead of two? He's already got the votes to outvote state employees on the committee if it comes to that. He simply doesn't even want them to have a seat at the table. And he's got Schwartzkopf and Longhurst running interference for him. Even though they're supposed to lead a caucus that wants this bill.